Buffalo State’s women’s hockey team will host an ECAC West postseason game for the first time in school history when it hosts fifth-seeded Oswego (11-10-4/6-9-3) for a first round game this Saturday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m.
The Bengals shattered a school record for wins in a season, going 18-7-0 overall, and earned the league’s No. 4 seed with a 12-6-0 conference record. The previous school best for wins in a season was 11 set in 2000-01.
Third-year head coach Candice Moxley returns her Bengals to the postseason for the third-consecutive year. Buffalo State is making its sixth appearance in the playoffs since joining the ECAC West in 2001-02, and is in search of its first-ever postseason victory.
Buffalo State is led offensively by sophomore Erin Gehen (West Seneca, NY/W. Seneca West) who has tallied 17 goals and 27 points, followed by senior Nikki Kirchberger (Buffalo, NY/W. Seneca West) who has added 10 goals and 21 points. The Bengals have been backstopped all season by sophomore goalie Justine Silva (Baldwin Park, CA/Arroyo) who has set a school record with 16 wins and has a 1.57 goals against average to go with a .945 save percentage.
Buffalo State swept Oswego during the regular season, winning a pair of games at the Ice Arena in late January, 3-1 and 2-0.
The winner will advance to the semifinals at top-seeded Plattsburgh and will face either the Cardinals or No. 2 Elmira, depending on the results of the other first round game between No. 3 Utica and No. 6 Cortland. Dates and times for the semifinals at Plattsburgh are to be determined.
