GENESEO, N.Y. - SUNY Geneseo junior Stephen Collins scored a goal to tally his team-high ninth point but it was Buffalo State coming away with the 7-4 victory in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) men's ice hockey action, Friday night. It was the Knights' first loss of the 2015-16 season.

The Bengals struck first after junior forward Nick Berst knocked in a power play goal with 11:19 on the clock off assists from sophomore defenseman Marcus Michalski and sophomore forward Zach Nieminen.

Following another Buffalo State tally at 4:56 by first-year forward Mac Wood off an assist from senior froward Brent Hope to take a 2-0 lead, Geneseo responded with a goal at 3:25. Collins took the puck from behind the net and beat Bengals' junior goalie Mike DeLaVergne up high to make it 2-1 after one period of play.

Buffalo State (3-2-2, 1-2-1 SUNYAC) scored twice in the second period to take a 4-1 lead. At 17:29, sophomore forward Jason Zaleski found the back of the net with assists from Hope and sophomore defenseman Brody Power. With 11:05 on the clock, senior forward Ryan Salkeld recorded a power play goal off assists from Power and junior forward Taylor Pryce.

The Knights (3-1-2, 1-1-2 SUNYAC) made it a 4-2 game entering the third period after senior forward Ryan Donnelly stole the puck at the red line, fought off a Bengals defender and slid the puck under DeLaVergne's pads for the short-handed goal. 

A goal by Nieminen at 18:51 and Salkeld at 11:30 gave the visitors a 6-2 lead that proved too much for Geneseo to overcome. Following a tripping penalty on the Bengals, junior forward Trevor Hills beat the goalie low with a slap shot from the top of the crease to make it 6-3 at 9:48. Hills was assisted by senior forward David Ripple and first-year forward Anthony Marra.

The Knights scored on another power play at 2:44 after junior forward RJ Burns knocked in the puck off assists from senior defenseman Matt Solomon and junior forward Jack Ceglarski. Buffalo State scored on an empty net in the final minute to seal the victory.

Geneseo returns to action tomorrow night at Fredonia. Game time is set for 7 p.m.