BUFFALO, NY—Buffalo State (8-8-1/4-5) took control early and cruised to a 3-0 victory over visiting New Paltz (4-12-3/2-6-1) in today's SUNYAC regular season finale on a wet, windy and cold Coyer Field. The win earned the team its first conference postseason berth since 2007 in just the first year under head coach Mark Howlett.

Erik Tellgren (Springville/Springville GI) opened the scoring with a strike off a rebound in the 20th minute, and Andrew Dugan (Schenectady/Colonie) extended the lead in the 43rd minute when he beat the keeper to a breakaway ball and flicked it over him into the back of the net. C.J. Scirto (Lockport/St. Joe's) assisted on each of the Bengals first two goals.

The Bengals had the wind at their backs in the second half and quickly pushed the lead to 3-0 in the 50th minute when Keegan Lezama (Milton, ON/Bishop Reding) netted his fourth of the season off a cross from Tellgren. Buffalo State played ball control for the rest of the game.

The Bengals outshot New Paltz 20-7 for the contest, including 12-1 with the wind in the second half. Robby Kuhnle (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) needed to make just two saves to preserve the shutout for Buffalo State.

Buffalo State will host Nazareth for a non-conference game on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Bengals will be the No. 5 seed in the SUNYAC playoffs and will travel to No. 4 Plattsburgh for a quarterfinal match on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.