FREDONIA, NY—Buffalo State (10-11-2/6-6-2) completed the weekend sweep against Fredonia (4-14-5/0-11-3) defeating the host Blue Devils, 6-2, clinching a SUNYAC playoff berth for the fifth-consecutive season.
Brett Hope (Blenheim, ON/Blenheim) had a goal and three assists, and Jason Zaleski (Scranton, PA/Scranton) and Brody Power (Toronto, ON/Upper Canada College) had a goals and two assists each to lead the Bengals. Ryan Salkeld (Virginia Beach, VA/Churchland), Anthony Beaumont (Lester, PA/Interboro) and Taylor Pryce (Newmarket, ON/Cardinal Carter) also scored for Buffalo State.
The teams traded goals in the early going with Salkeld’s team-best 12th of the season getting things started for Buffalo State just 3:22 into the game. Fredonia evened the score just over a minute later, but Beaumont tallied his fifth of the season before the first intermission to give the Bengals a lead they would never relinquish.
Zaleski gave Buffalo State a two-goal lead with his 11th goal of the year early in the second period. Fredonia cut into the deficit in the middle of the second period, but could not score again. Buffalo State pulled away in the third period with three goals, the last of which was an empty-netter.
Mike DeLaVergne (Pawling, NY/Pawling) finished with 33 saves in the win as the Bengals outshot Fredonia, 42-35.
With the victory, the Bengals earn another point in the season long all-sports “Battle by the Lake” competition between Buffalo State and Fredonia, and now trails just 10-6. For more information, visit www.buffalostateathletics.com/battle .
Buffalo State will close out the regular season at home next Friday and Saturday against Brockport and Geneseo respectively.
