Box Score Box Score

BUFFALO – With three goals in the first frame, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team (8-8-1, 4-4-1 SUNYAC) dropped Buffalo State (6-9-2, 1-8-0 SUNYAC) Saturday afternoon, 3-2, to earn the No. 6 seed in the 2011 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament.

The Hawks were helped out by SUNY Oneonta (12-2-2, 8-0-1 SUNYAC), which topped SUNY Fredonia (11-7-0, 4-5-0 SUNYAC), 4-2, allowing New Paltz to jump Fredonia for the sixth seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. The Hawks will take on third-seeded SUNY Geneseo (8-6-2, 5-3-1 SUNYAC) in Geneseo, N.Y., on Saturday, Oct. 29 in the quarterfinals.

Senior forward Jimmy Altadonna (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) led the way for the Hawks by collecting four points in the contest.

Altadonna assisted on the Hawks' first goal in the sixth minute with a drop pass to junior forward Harrison Lane (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central), who drilled a shot through traffic and into the back of the net.

Senior forward Tommy Garafola (Richmond Hill, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) blasted one from 20 yards out off an Altadonna feed at 20:35 to give the Hawks the 2-0 advantage.

With a 2-1 lead in the 28th minute, Altadonna netted his fourth goal of the season after a corner kick, which turned out to be the deciding score in the contest.  Senior midfielder Michael Santalesa (New Hyde Park, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) assisted Altadonna on the play.

Midfielder Tom Winski scored Buffalo State's first goal at 22:30 with a quick touch off a pass from midfielder Tony Schiappa.  The Bengals scored again in the second stanza off a booming shot from 25 yards out by forward Andrew Dugan in the 77th minute.

Emotions ran high, as seven yellow cards and a red card were dealt throughout the contest, seven of which were handed out in the final 12 minutes.

Senior goalkeeper Tom Viscardi (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y. / Sachem North) stopped five shots en route to his second victory of the season.  His Buffalo State counterpart, Ben Spilman, turned away four attempts, but allowed three scores to take the loss.

New Paltz outplayed Buffalo State throughout the contest, tallying 17 shots to the Bengals' 11 and having the edge in corner kicks, 5-1.

The Hawks return home to play their final game of the 2011 regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 26, as they take on non-conference opponent Drew University at Alumni Field at 3 p.m.  The team will honor its 13 seniors for Senior Day before the contest gets underway.