Buffalo State Athletic Communications

BUFFALO, NY – The United Soccer Coaches (USC) named their NCAA Division III All-America Teams as Diego Rivera (East Meadow, NY/Cairo Durham) earned First Team All-America honors and Manu Prieto (Cascais, Portugal/Salesianos do Estoril) earned Second Team All-America honors. The duo gives Buffalo State their first All-American selections from men's soccer since Luke Pavone and Devonte Black in 2017. Prior to that, no Bengal from the men's soccer program had earned All-American status since 1984.
 
Rivera is coming off a career year earning USC All-Region First Team, First Team All-SUNYAC, and was named the SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Year. Rivera tallied 44 points on 18 goals and eight assists while starting every game for Buffalo State. Rivera also posted two game winning goals and a pair of hat tricks as Buffalo State earned their first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 2017, reaching the Sweet 16. He was also a First Team All-Region and All-SUNYAC selection last season in his first year at Buffalo State.
 
Prieto also had a historic season to help earn his first All-Region selection. Earning First Team All-SUNYAC as well, Prieto set the program record for most assists in a single season with 17, which also led the nation, while also adding 10 goals for 37 points on the year. The senior captain also had 43 shots on goal which led the SUNAYC. Both Prieto and Rivera were named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team as the Bengals reached the conference championship for the first time since 1984.