University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: September 5, 2002

Football

Lehigh 37, UB 26

Lehigh University showed why it owns the nation's longest current Division I regular-season winning streak by bouncing back from an early two-touchdown deficit to defeat UB, 37-26, before 21,103 fans in UB Stadium on Aug. 29.

The Mountain Hawks, who are now 43-1 in the last four-plus regular seasons, spotted the Bulls a 13-0 lead just 4:22 into the game but outplayed the Bulls from that point on, using two quarterbacks to throw for 334 yards. The game-breaking play came with 8:44 remaining in the contest and UB trailing, 30-26. Sophomore quarterback Randall Secky had his pass in the right flat intercepted by Lawrence Williams and returned 31 yards for the game-clinching score. It was the fourth time that Williams has returned an interception for a touchdown in his career.

"It is certainly a disappointment to lose any football game, at any time," said UB head coach Jim Hofher, "and this is no less or greater a disappointment. Lehigh did a good job with their passing game and we didn't, I thought that was the difference in the game. Credit Lehigh for playing as well as they did, coming back from a 13-point deficit and once again fighting back when the score was tied (at 23-23)."

The Bulls will travel to New Jersey for Saturday's game against Big East foe Rutgers.

Volleyball

Coastal Carolina 3, UB 2
UB 3, Bucknell 2
UB 3, Canisius 0

The debut of head coach Sally Kus got off to a rocky start Friday night, but the Bulls rebounded with a pair of wins on Saturday to give the squad a second-place finish at the UB Hampton Inn-vitational.

UB began the tournament with a five-game loss to Coastal Carolina. The Bulls opened the match with a 30-27 win in game one before Coastal Carolina grabbed some momentum and took games two and three by 30-22 and 30-25 scores. The Bulls forced a fifth game with a 30-19 win in game four before Coastal Carolina took a 15-12 decision in game five. The Bulls had battled back from a 14-8 deficit with four straight points to make the score 14-12 in the deciding game, but a kill by Sarah Bennett ended the game and the match.

UB had four players finish in double figures in kills, led by junior Lindsay Matikosh with 15, including six in the opening game and four in the deciding game. Matikosh also finished with 15 digs and three blocks. Freshmen Katie Weekley (14 kills, six blocks) and Amy Brown (28 assists, team-high 18 digs) both had impressive showings in their first collegiate matches, and junior Alexis Bouie started the year strong with 13 kills and six blocks. The sophomore duo of Molly Schrantz (10 kills, 28 assists, 11 digs, four service aces) and Kathryn Henry (nine kills, 15 digs, three blocks) also contributed to the Bulls' effort.

On Saturday, Kus picked up her first two Division I coaching victories and Matikosh and Schrantz were both named to the All-Tournament Team as UB defeated Bucknell (3-2) and Canisius (3-0).

The Bulls began the day with an impressive come-from-behind victory over Bucknell, led by 17 kills and 15 digs from Matikosh and a triple-double from Schrantz (10 kills, 40 assists, 10 digs), her second triple-double of the tournament. The Bison pulled out 30-27 and 30-28 wins in the first two games, but the Bulls came charging back with easy 30-20 and 30-17 wins in games three and four to force a deciding fifth game. The Bulls controlled play in the fifth and ended it at 15-10 on a block assist from Schrantz and Bouie. Bouie finished the match with 13 kills, a career-high nine digs and six blocks, and Weekley added 10 kills and 10 blocks.

UB then got out to a quick 2-0 lead against Canisius, winning games one and two by 30-22 and 30-25 scores before the Golden Griffs began to fight back. Canisius was up by seven points on two occasions in game three (20-13 and 21-14), but Matikosh took matters into her own hands, recording kills for six of the Bulls' final nine points in the game, which ended in a 31-29 score. She finished the match with 18 kills and 12 digs, while Henry added 12 kills and 17 digs.

Soccer

MEN'S

Central Connecticut State 2, UB 1
UB 2, Sacred Heart 1

UB posted a 1-1 record in last weekend's season-opening Central Connecticut Tournament, falling to the host Blue Devils, 2-1 in the opener, while rebounding for a 2-1 victory over Sacred Heart on Sunday.

In the opener, the Blue Devils wasted little time getting on the board as Fahad Al-Batrani scored just three minutes into the contest. Central Connecticut scored its second goal of the game at the 56:41 mark when Krzystof Korckzak found the back of the net. Geoff Thompson got the Bulls on the board at the 62:41 mark when he took a pass from Dave Pidgeon and scored on a breakaway. It was Thompson's fourth career goal.

Starting goalkeeper Brian Wozniak made six saves for the Bulls.

First-half goals from Thompson and Mike Peplinski propelled the Bulls to their first win of the season, a 2-1 decision over Sacred Heart. Thompson's goal came at the 32:22 mark and was assisted by Pidgeon and Jason Seymour. Peplinski's goal came just three minutes later when he scored on a penalty kick. Sacred Heart forward Franco Cartiera scored the Pioneers' lone goal on a penalty kick in the 82nd minute. Wozniak made five saves to pick up his first win of the year.

The Bulls, now 1-0-1 on the season, will next play Bucknell at 1 p.m. Saturday in the opening game of the Bulls Fall Invitational at RAC Field. UB will meet Robert Morris in the tournament finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

WOMEN'S

UB 2, Syracuse 2
UB 1, Colgate 1

A pair of ties opened the UB women's soccer team's season at the Syracuse Orange Classic Tournament. The Bulls opened with a 2-2 tie against the host Orangewomen on Friday and followed with a 1-1 decision on Sunday against Colgate.

Against Syracuse, the Bulls got on the board first when Erin McGarry took a pass from Elizabeth Pfeffer and scored in the 31st minute. The Orangewomen quickly answered when Nina Scalzo scored seven minutes later. UB pulled ahead once again, thanks to a Robin Aparo goal at the 47:55 mark. Jenny Dannecker was credited with the assist on the play. However, the Bulls were unable to sustain the lead as Syracuse midfielder Stephanie Sybert scored in the 81st minute to tie the game, 2-2. Neither team was able to score in the overtime session.

UB Goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert, playing in her first collegiate game, made four saves in her debut.

On Sunday, Colgate got on the board first when Kelly Kuss scored in traffic in front of the net at the 30:28 mark. The Bulls tied the game in the 66th minute when McGarry scored on a penalty kick - her second goal of the season. UB goalkeeper Emily Cox was solid in the net, making seven saves while allowing only one goal.

The Bulls are now 0-0-2 on the season. They next will face Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the opening game of the Purdue Boilermaker Challenge Cup played in West Lafayette, Ind., tomorrow.

Cross Country

Bulls to open 2002 season at Akron Invite

The men's and women's cross-country squads will open the 2002 season Saturday at the Akron Invite. Vicki Mitchell will make her debut as head coach, succeeding Dick Barry, who retired in May after 17 seasons at the helm. UB's squads are loaded with veteran talent. Senior Jerimie Slick leads the men, while senior Melissa Burrows tops the women's team. Slick became the first UB cross-country runner in more than 30 years to represent the Bulls at the NCAA Championships last season. Burrows was consistently strong last year, as the top finisher in all seven meets.

Tennis

WOMEN'S

UB to host Niagara in fall season opener

The women's tennis team will host Niagara at 1 p.m. Saturday at the UB Tennis Center to open the 2002-03 campaign. Head coach Kathy Twist's squad hopes to start the fall campaign on a strong note against the Purple Eagles.