BUFFALO STATE ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Freshman Zakaria Shaibi(Buffalo/McKinley) tallied a goal and an assist in his first game as a Bengal to help lead Buffalo State to a decisive 3-0 season-opening victory over visiting Elmira in the first day of the Fred Hartrick Classic.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, Elmira – 0
LOCATION: Coyer Field – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (1-0), Elmira (0-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Theo Pencic (Oslo, Norway/Heltberg) and Nemanja Simic (Grand Island/Grand Island) also scored for Buffalo State, and August Finn (High Falls, NY/Rondout Valley) had a pair of assists.
- Buffalo State wasted little time jumping in front as Pencic converted a cross from Finn less than two minutes into his first collegiate game.
- Shaibi look a pass from Finn and made a long run before sliding a shot inside the left post to extend the lead in the 34th minute.
- Buffalo State remained in control in the second half and completed the scoring in the 61st minute as Simic buried a chance in an open goal after Elmira misplayed a long feed from Trevor Moreland(Newfane/Newfane).
- Buffalo State finished with an 18-1 advantage in shots, with Elmira’s lone attempt of the game coming in the form of a header off the cross bar in the closing seconds.
- Elmira was assessed 18 fouls, compared to 12 by the Bengals, and also collected three second-half yellow cards.
NOTEWORTHY
The win is the first for interim head coach Francesco Cardillo.
FOR THE FOES
- Giovanni Garufi finished with four saves in the loss for Elmira.
UP NEXT
The Fred Hartrick Classic will wrap up tomorrow with Elmira and Fredonia squaring off at 4 p.m., followed by Buffalo State and Medaille at 7 p.m.
