Buffalo, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer team had come into Saturday's showdown with 10-3 Buffalo State nationally ranked and as one of the top teams in the SUNYAC. Unfortunately for the Hawks, they suffered a tough road defeat in Buffalo on Saturday by a score of 3-1 that brought their seven game winning streak to an end. 

The game was exactly as expected from two great teams. Competitive, feisty, and with neither team giving much. There were plenty of shots in the contest, with the Bengals getting 15 and the Hawks 13, and the home team producing six shots on goal to SUNY New Paltz's seven. Though both teams had a couple chances early, with the Hawks in the 12th minute getting a through ball to Philip Varner that was just out of his reach, and Buffalo State sending a shot high over the SUNY New Paltz net, neither team was able to capitalize in the first 19 minutes. That is until the Bengals struck 20 minutes in. 

Senior defenseman Trevor Moreland was credited with a goal that first deflected off a Hawk player's head before hitting the back of the net. 

"The first goal was a tough one," said SUNY New Paltz coach Kyle Clancy. "Just an unfortunate own goal. We've had plenty of things bounce our way this season and this was one that didn't." 

In the 33rd minute, Varner took a shot from straight away that was saved by Buffalo State goalkeeper Max Shoemaker. The Hawks also had two chances late in the half, in the 40th minute and 44th minute, but both attempts were stifled by the Bengals defense.  

It only took seven minutes into the second half for the home team to score again, as they broke away in the 52nd minute, when sophomore midfielder Musa Abdulla got between two SUNY New Paltz defenders and shot a strong ball into the top right corner to make the score, 2-0 Buffalo State. 

The Hawks got an opportunity in the 70th minute on a ball sent across, but mistiming on the run saw the ball rolling out of bounds and out of play. A free kick in the 75th minute was knocked away by Shoemaker, and a shot in the 77th minute was high over the net. 

"We did create some good opportunities in 1-on-1 situations in the final third, or opportunities to finish that we just didn't put away," Clancy said. "It's something we need to make sure we improve on this week." 

Buffalo State added a third goal in the 85th minute when Theo Pencic put one in from DePasquale's left side. DePasquale had moved to his right as Anthony Roncone had the ball, but Roncone passed a nice ball over to Pencic, as DePasquale's momentum carried him in the other direction. 

SUNY New Paltz did add a score in the 87th minute, as Gino Mazzella scored his second goal of the season, assisted on the play by Jonathan Tola and Gabriel Cruz. It was all the Hawks could muster, however, on an afternoon where they just weren't at the top of their game — a day great teams have every now and then. 

"We just need to make sure we are a bit better defensively in the middle, better shape and ability to win the ball, and also seeing the more dangerous passes quicker," Clancy said. "I am certain in the final third that we will be better next weekend." 

The loss, in snapping their six-game winning streak, drops the Hawks to 11-3 on the season, while the victory for Buffalo State tied both SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Cortland in the win column. The Bengals are 11-3-1 while the Red Dragons are 11-2-1. It was also the first SUNYAC loss on the season for the Hawks, but they still maintain the conference's best record, at 6-1, and are one of only two teams in the conference, along with Cortland, to clinch a playoff berth so far. 

Next up for SUNY New Paltz is another weekend double header, as it will play at SUNY Oswego Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. before its showdown with the Red Dragons Oct. 23 at 1 p.m.

"Mentally, they'll have no issues rebounding," Clancy said. "It's all about improving in a few areas on the field."