Quincy Miller caught seven passes for 158 yards and the go-ahead score as Lafayette gave head coach Bill Russo his 100th career victory as the Leopards downed the University at Buffalo 24-17 Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium.

Miller's 35-yard touchdown pass from Shawn McHale put the Leopards ahead 7-3 and his 27-yard catch on third-and-19 in the third quarter set up the first of Nino DiMatteo's two touchdowns to put Lafayette (1-0) up 17-3. The Leopards took a 24-3 lead before the Bulls (1-1) rallied late in the fourth quarter.

Anthony Swan threw a 46-yard halfback option pass to Rich Sitarek with 3:30 left in the game to cut the lead to 24-10. Nose guard Keith Hansen then returned an interception 42 yards after Vince Canosa hit McHale's arm with 2:04 left in regulation.

However, Miller again saved the day for the Leopards as he fielded Gerald Carlson's onside kick and Lafayette was able to run the clock down to :01. UB quarterback Kevin McGriff's Hail Mary pass on the last play was incomplete.

McHale completed 20-of-34 passes for 236 yards on a day when the Leopards were held to 30 yards rushing on 42 carries. Both teams lost three fumbles in the game, all of them in the first half as neither team could establish any offense. UB linebacker Craig Guest had 18 tackles, including five for losses, while Pete Conley added 12 tackles, two of them for loss, and two fumble recoveries. Hansen had nine tackles, two pass breakups and a half-sack for the Bulls.

Rawle Howard led Lafayette with nine tackles and a fumble recovery.

VOLLEYBALL

The Royals traveled to South Orange, N.J. for three matches in the Seton Hall Tournament over the weekend. UB defeated LaSalle 15-17, 15-10, 15-11, 15-9 and Long Island 15-8, 15-7, 15-5. The Royals lost to host Seton Hall 15-8, 10-15, 15-11, 15-7 to put their record at 4-2 this season.

Candi Sims had impressive numbers for the tournament. The junior setter had 26 kills, five aces and a .448 hitting percentage on offense and added 87 assists. Defensively, Sims totaled eight blocks and 34 digs. UB takes to the road this weekend for four matches at Robert Morris.

MEN'S SOCCER

Goalie Jay Palmer led the Bulls to a 2-0 win over the Big East's Pittsburgh Panthers Saturday afternoon to push UB's record to 3-1.

Junior forward Ediru Okpewho opened scoring at the 22:05 mark on a breakaway pass from Antony Wright, playing in his first match since returning from the Australian World University Games soccer squad in Japan. Joe Mercik scored in the second half on assist from Mark Malikowski for the deciding margin. Palmer made five saves in the match to post his second shutout of the season. The Bulls opened their homestand with a 3-1 win over Canisius Sept. 6. Freshman Sebastian Zawislan scored two goals while Okpewho added the other on a penalty kick. Palmer stopped six shots.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

The Royals scored three second half goals to down Siena 5-2, on Saturday. UB is now 2-1. Defenseman Dana Talerico gave the Royals a 1-0 lead 3:28 into the match scoring off a corner kick by Jennifer Devita. Siena came back to tie the game at the nine minute mark when Melissa Oldi scored. UB then dominated, scoring three unanswered goals with freshman Beth Costello starting the rally with an unassisted goal at 10:58 put the Royals ahead to stay.

In the second half, Annamaria Gasbarra scored unassisted at 55:26 to give the Royals a 3-1 edge. Two minutes later, Lori Perillo scored off a crossing pass from Gasbarra for a 4-1 lead. After Siena's Bessie O'Dea gave the Saints an unassisted tally, Gasbarra scored the final UB goal. UB starts a five-match road swing as they face Eastern Michigan Friday and the University of Michigan Sunday.

CROSS COUNTRY

Chris Keenan broke the course record in leading the Bulls to a tri-meet victory at the UB Open over Niagara (15-48) and St. Bonaventure (15-49). Keenan completed the 8K Akron Falls Park course in 26:12.7. UB took the top five spots to ensure the win.

On the women's side, Judith Novak led the Royals to the top four spots to lead UB to wins over Niagara (15-50), Cleveland State (15-49), St. Bonaventure (15-50) and Duquesne (16-41). Novak completed the 5K run in 18:29.6.

Both teams host the UB Invitational at Akron Falls Park this weekend. Teams from Colgate, Western Ontario, Youngstown State, Rochester and St. Bonaventure will also be participating.

-Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office