BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senior forward Alex Price (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) scored 18 seconds into the second half to open scoring, but the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team fell, 2-1, to Buffalo State in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action Friday afternoon at Coyer Field.
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 6-7-3 overall (3-4-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and closes out its regular season tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Fredonia. The Cardinals will lock up the sixth and final spot in the SUNYAC Tournament with a victory over Fredonia, and they will need an Oswego State tie or loss against SUNY Geneseo tomorrow if they lose to or tie the Blue Devils. Buffalo State clinched a spot in the SUNYAC Tournament with the win and rises to 9-4-2 overall (4-3-1 SUNYAC). The Bengals face SUNY Potsdam at 1 p.m. tomorrow in their SUNYAC finale.
 
The Cardinals were forced to play a man down beginning in the 39th minute, though Price put Plattsburgh State up, 1-0, just moments into the second half. Junior forward Jimmy Marchena (Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) sent a through ball to Price, who took a shot that went inside the far left post for his third goal of the season.
 
Buffalo State wound up scoring two unanswered goals to take a 2-1 lead. Freshman forward Theo Pencic scored on a header in the 51st minute, heading in a long play into the box by junior defender Colin O'Keefe. Senior defender Robert Williamson tallied the game-winner in the 63rd minute, burying a low free kick inside the right post from 20 yards out.
 
Marchena nearly netted the equalizer in the final minute of play on a 30-yard free kick, but Buffalo State's sophomore goalkeeper Dylan Guarino made a diving save to lock up the win for the Bengals.
 
Buffalo State finished with a 19-13 edge in shots, including a 9-3 margin in the first half, but Plattsburgh State held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Wilson (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) made seven saves in the loss for the Cardinals, while senior goalkeeper Andreas Queen and Guarino combined to make five stops in the win for the Bengals. Buffalo State also finished with two team saves.