FREDONIA, N.Y. – After missing the SUNYAC playoffs in 2013, Fredonia women's soccer is back in the post-season mix.
 
Two conference wins last weekend against Oneonta and New Paltz vaulted the Blue Devils into third place in the conference, a position they held both in 2011 and 2012. They will match up against the sixth seed, Buffalo State, at 1 p.m. this Saturday at University Stadium.
 
The Blue Devils finished the regular season with a 5-3-1 record in the conference, including a 2-1 win against first place Geneseo. Though the team has had impressive wins in the conference, they've also struggled against teams that missed post-season play.
 
"The season has been up and down," head coach Chris Case said. "Probably the biggest way to look at that is what we've done in the conference. All the teams that made the playoffs we've beaten except for Cortland. The teams that haven't made the playoffs we've struggled with."
 
Part of the reason for the unpredictability of the team's performance is a young roster. The Blue Devils have only two seniors and regularly start six or more sophomores. The young players continue to learn as they go.
 
"We brought in a big freshman class last year," Case said. "We're on the young side and we're still learning. Certain players are starting to understand concepts within the game and what it takes to be successful at the collegiate level. I feel good about our progression throughout the year."
 
Fredonia won the first match-up with Buffalo State this season, 1-0. Case expects the rematch to be just as close.
 
"It comes down to execution," he said. "We're capable of beating Buff State and Buff State is capable of beating us. We need to make sure we don't get countered against because they'll make us pay. They're pretty well organized defensively and we'll need to find a way to create some chances on goal. It'll be a tough task."