The wins keep coming and historic success is being realized by the Buffalo State women’s soccer team.

With a 1-0 win on Friday against Cortland and a 3-2 victory on Saturday against Oswego, their win streak moves to nine games in a row, a program record for consecutive wins. The 2006 Bengals posted eight straight.

“It means a lot to me,” senior defender Kristina Change said. “This is the second school record I have broken with this team and it’s a great feeling to know that I had contributed to the success of this team.”

Forward Tianna Hatch scored a team-leading sixth goal of the season to open the scoring against Oswego. The win streak is a testament to the work that Hatch and her teammates have put into the season.

“It’s just another reassurance that what we’re doing is working,” Hatch said. “We’ve just got to keep working harder now.”

The game against Oswego was the first in which the Bengals were outshot as Oswego got off 17 shots to the Bengals’ 10.

The run of play forced a counter attacking style for Buffalo State. Hatch’s goal came on a breakaway in the 7^th minute, and the second goal came from midfielder Breanna Knight in the 37^th. Early in the second half, Gabrianna Boldinski put the ball between the pipes off of a set piece from Melissa Smith, who leads the team in assists with four.

Head Coach Nick DeMarsh admits at this point in the season that the games come down to the team’s identity rather than fitting them for a system of play.

“We’re kind of a machine right now, we’re getting results, we’re high pressure and we do a good job,” DeMarsh said. “No matter how I see the team in terms of vision for what I want the games to look like, that’s just not what we’ve developed, that’s not our identity, so I don’t think we’re going to ever see that kind of fluidity in the way we play, it just doesn’t seem to be in our DNA. I think we’re settling into the way we play and we’re not satisfied; we always want to try and play better, but I just don’t know if we’re designed to play in our system perfectly.”

The Lakers scored two goals in the second half to put the pressure on late in the game, but Buffalo State was able to hold on to the lead and come away with the victory.

The game against Cortland went much differently from a defensive standpoint for the Bengals as they posted their sixth clean sheet of the season. Shutouts have been a big boost for the team, especially at times when the offense has been getting opportunities but were unable to score goals.

“I think one of our greatest strengths is our ability to read the game and know when to step up and when to contain,” Change said. “We communicate well which allows us to make adjustments as needed.”

The season is a long one and with every up there will eventually be downs. DeMarsh realizes this as he tries to keep the team level and sets realistic standards going forward.

“We’re realizing that we’re not perfect,” he said. “The girls have high expectations and we expect to win, but we don’t play perfect soccer; everybody makes mistakes. The coaches, the players, we all make mistakes, but that’s how every family is.

“Every family has problems and they work through it and we’re no different. I like my team and we’re just going to work hard and try to get better every day.”

The Bengals (10-3) have begun their conference schedule at a perfect 5-0 and will try to remain perfect when they finish out their home schedule with a pair of games at Coyer Field against Potsdam and Plattsburgh on Friday and Saturday.

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