Fredonia State sophomore midfielder Gabby Irwin runs up field between two Buffalo State Bengals during the SUNYAC Tournament first-round game on Saturday at University Stadium (photo by Becca Torncello).
Fredonia State defeated Buffalo State, 2-0, in a SUNYAC women's soccer tournament first-round game Saturday afternoon at University Stadium.
Goals by Katie Sellers and Gabby Irwin advanced the No. 4-seeded Blue Devils (12-7-0) to a semifinal meeting Wednesday at No. 1 seed New Paltz.
Abby Szymkowiak made four saves to author her eighth shutout of the season. Three of her saves came on good Buffalo State scoring chances.
The teams were scoreless until the 42nd minute when Sellers headed home a cross from Jenna Hewitt following a Blue Devil throw-in. It was the team-leading 13th goal of the season for Sellers and her fourth game-winner.
The Blue Devils, who had a 35-7 advantage in total shots, added insurance in the 52nd minute when Irwin split two defenders, settled a bouncing ball, and rolled a shot past Buffalo State goalkeeper Addy Williams. It was Irwin's ninth goal of the season.
Szymkowiak made three difficult saves to preserve the shutout. She stymied Kaylee Valentic with a sprawling stop in the 49th minute, had another diving stop on a hard shot by Isabella Melfi with just over 20 minutes left, and beat Eve DiCarlo to a loose ball in the goal crease in the 84th minute..
Williams made 13 saves in net foe Bengals, whose season ended with a 8-10-0 mark.
The Blue Devil win tied the program record for most wins in a season, matching the 1994 and 2012 teams. The 1994 team finished 12-7-2 while the 2012 team was 12-4-3.
