The Royals shut out Valparaiso 3-0 Saturday in Indiana as UB got all their goals in the first half. Annamaria Gasbarra, Joanna Tower and Beth Costello each found the net early in the match for UB. Jennifer Devita assisted on two of the Royal goals. Nikki Pittaro registered her second shutout of the season in the win needing only one save.

Kelly Starchok's goal with seven minutes remaining gave the Royals a 3-2 win over Loyola of Chicago on Sunday. Starchok got the game-winner just four minutes after the Royals tied the score on Tracey Britton's first collegiate goal. Aimee Mann also scored for the victorious Royals, now 7-3-3. Pittaro stopped five shots in the win.

CROSS COUNTRY

Chris Bossert set a course record to lead the Bulls to a second place finish at the Harry Anderson Memorial Invitational at Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday. Bossert finished the 8K course in 25:57.9 with teammate Josh Reissig placing fourth in 26:30. Rochester won the team competition with 53 points to UB's 59.

On the women's side, Kim Nielsen's sixth place finish paced the Royals to a second place team showing at the event. Nielsen completed the 5K course in 19:58 with Roberts Wesleyan's Jen Burdick winning the race in 19:14. Rochester won the team competition with 52 points edging UB's 54.

FOOTBALL

Saturday's Homecoming football game proved to be a soggy day for the Bulls as Massachusetts' Frank Allessio rushed for a career-high 172 yards on 19 carries as the Minutemen defeated UB 33-9.

Rene Ingoglia added 148 yards on 26 carries including three touchdowns for UMass (3-3) as the Minutemen ground out 347 yards rushing on the afternoon.

UMass went 58 yards after recovering a fumble on its first possession of the third quarter to go ahead 20-9 and took advantage of three second-half turnovers by UB. The Bulls got all their scoring from junior kicker Gerald Carlson on field goals of 51, 37 and 43 yards.

The Minutemen were aided by 11 sacks on UB quarterback Mark Taylor, including two by Justin Riemer, who led the Minutemen with 11 tackles. Pete Conley had 13 tackles for UB (2-5).

VOLLEYBALL

Coach Bob Maxwell's Royals picked up their third win in a row in defeating Niagara University 15-5, 12-15, 15-9, 15-12 Oct. 11 at Alumni Arena. Candie Hirst led the Royals with 22 kills and 18 digs while Laurie Santelli added 12 kills and 11 digs. Candi Sims tallied 49 assists for UB. Niagara, who fell to 8-13, picked up 13 kills, 16 digs and nine blocks from Jessica Anderson. Jennifer Godfrey added 11 blocks for the Purple Eagles. It was the second victory of the season for the Royals over Niagara.

UB dropped a grueling four game match to Ivy League member Penn Friday night 15-12, 15-13, 12-15, 15-11 at Alumni Arena to snap the winning streak.

Hirst paced the Royals, now 16-10, with 27 kills in the four games while adding 15 digs and two service aces. Sims totaled 38 assists with Santelli picking up a team-high 24 digs. Kathy Brinkworth had nine blocks. The Quakers (9-7) got 21 kills from Abby Daniels. Carol Cit Kovic registered 15 digs while Karen Kinsherf and Heather Glick tallied 13. Glick also had 47 assists.

UB visits Mid-Continent members Chicago State, Valparaiso and Northeastern Illinois in their next action Oct. 20-22.

MEN'S SOCCER

The Bulls took a much deserved week off before tackling the final two weeks of the schedule. UB travels to Northeastern Illinois for the second round of Mid-Continent Eastern Division cluster matches taking on the host Golden Eagles on Saturday and Valparaiso on Sunday.

MEN'S TENNIS

The Bulls downed Robert Morris 5-2 Sunday at the University Tennis Club under brutal conditions with wind gusts in excess of 40 miles per hour. Head coach Russ Crispell reported that his players were forced to serve underhand on many occasions to keep the ball from blowing out of play. Bill Parks won his number one singles match defeating Jason Gray 6-2, 6-1. Parks also teamed with Mike Proulx to defeat the Colonials' number one doubles squad 8-2.

- Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office