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BUFFALO, NY - Freshman Justin Higgins (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and sophomore Patrick Beckley (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) scored first-half goals to lead the University at Buffalo men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over St. Francis (PA) on Friday night. The Bulls finish the regular season with an 8-6-2 mark and will begin postseason play on November 9 in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Akron, OH.

Patrick Beckley

Higgins put Buffalo on the board with his third goal of the season 6:39 into the game when he knocked in a cross from Beckley on the right side of the box. Junior Jenton Esworthy (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott), who initially feed the ball to Beckley, also picked up an assist on the goal.

Buffalo then took a 2-0 lead in the 27th minute when Beckley tallied a goal of his own on a rebound off a shot by freshman Jeff Martinko (Shelby Township, MI/DeLaSalle Collegiate).

St. Francis (6-9-3) cut the deficit in half in the 54th minute when Matt Rosenfeld scored unassisted on a loose ball in the box. However, that was as close as the Red Flash would get as Buffalo held on for the victory.

Sophomore Chris Vavrina (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) earned the start in goal for Buffalo and recorded two saves before junior Brian Wozniak (Canton, MI/Plymouth Salem) came on to play the final 33:40.

The Bulls will have six days off before the start of the MAC postseason tournament, which begins November 9 at Akron, OH. The University of Akron will host the quarterfinals that afternoon and semifinals on November 11. The highest remaining seed will then earn the right to host the conference championship match on November 17.