University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: September 19, 2002

Football

Connecticut 24, UB 3

The University of Connecticut turned the tables on UB Saturday night.

The Huskies broke open a tight game with 21 unanswered points in the second half to post a 24-3 win over the Bulls before 17,012 in UB Stadium. Last season, UB claimed its first win of the season with a 34-point second-half barrage in defeating UConn in Storrs.

UB trailed 10-0 after UConn quarterback Keron Henry snuck in from one-yard out on fourth and goal with 10 minutes to go in the third quarter, snapping a tight defensive battle. However, the Bulls had a touchdown run by Aaron Leeper called back due to holding and eventually had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Dallas Pelz to cut the lead to 10-3. But that was a close as they would get.

UConn responded with a seven-play, 81-yard drive—capped by a 50-yard pass from Dan Orlovsky to tight end Tommy Collins with 8:12 remaining. Orlovsky closed the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run.

UB (1-2) was hurt severely by two key statistics: The Bulls were just 1-of-14 on third-down conversions and hurt their own cause by committing 11 penalties for 86 yards. Connecticut (1-2) also owned the clock throughout, holding the ball nearly nine minutes longer than UB while not committing a turnover.

The Bulls' running game—so impressive at Rutgers in a win over the Scarlet Knights last weekend—struggled throughout. UB was limited to 45 yards total rushing, with Leeper leading the way with 19 carries for 52 yards. Quarterback Randall Secky suffered through a tough night, getting sacked twice and completing just 11-of-31 passes for 123 yards against tight coverage. Once again, Secky's favorite target was senior wideout Andre Forde, who had five catches for 63 yards.

The Bulls' defense kept them in the game through three quarters, with excellent play from the front seven. Linebackers Ryan Buttles and Lamar Wilcher each had nine tackles, while defensive linemen Phil Jacques and Rob Schroeder had six stops each. Schroeder also blocked a field-goal attempt in the second quarter. Defensive end Anthony Andriano had three tackles for loss and a sack for the Bulls, while outside linebacker Rodney Morris had six tackles, two for losses.

The Bulls travel to the Metrodome in Minneapolis for Saturday's showdown against Big Ten opponent Minnesota.

Volleyball

UB 3, Colgate 0
UB 3, Brown 1
Syracuse 3, UB 0

UB finished 2-1 at the Syracuse Invitational last weekend, with a win over Brown, 3-1, and a loss to the host Orangewomen, 3-0, Saturday in Manley Field House. With a 2-1 showing at the tournament, UB's record now stands at 4-6 overall. Junior Lindsay Matikosh and sophomore Kathryn Henry were both named to the All-Tournament Team.

In its first match of the day, Brown took the opening game, 30-23, but the Bulls came back with 30-23, 30-24 and 30-22 wins in the next three games to earn the victory. Matikosh led the Bulls with match highs of 25 kills and 17 digs, and Henry added 11 kills, eight digs and three service aces. Freshman Amy Brown had 47 assists, and freshman Katie Weekley posted a match-high five blocks. Senior Amie Wall and sophomore Molly Schrantz also recorded double figures in digs with 11 and 12, respectively.

The Bulls were then shut out by the Orangewomen in the tournament's final match, 30-12, 30-24, 30-28. Matikosh posted a team-high nine kills, and Henry added seven kills and a team-high 10 digs. For the tournament, Matikosh finished with a team-leading 48 kills and 31 digs, and Henry added 34 kills, 11 service aces and 25 digs to earn All-Tournament Team honors.

UB opened the tournament on Friday with a 3-0 sweep of Colgate, 30-27, 30-23, 30-22. Henry posted career highs in both kills (16) and service aces (seven) with her 16 kills coming on 27 attack attempts, giving her a .444 hitting percentage for the match. Matikosh added 14 kills.

Soccer

Men's

UB 2, Army 0

UB shut out Army, 2-0, at RAC Field on Sept. 12 in its only action of the week. Justin Higgins made his first goal of the season count as the game-winner in the 65th minute. The sophomore midfielder corralled the ball and scored in traffic to put the Bulls ahead 1-0. Mike Peplinski added an insurance goal less than three minutes later when he ripped a penalty kick past Army goalkeeper Kevin Larrabee. UB goalkeeper Brian Wozniak made six saves to earn his first shutout of the season and seventh of his career.

Women's

UB 1, Northern Illinois 0
Western Michigan 5, UB 0

UB opened Mid-American Conference play with a 1-0 win over Northern Illinois in DeKalb on Friday night. It also was the Bulls' first win of the season after tying three of the first four games. UB's lone goal was scored by Elizabeth Pfeffer in the 73rd minute. It was Pfeffer's first goal of the season. UB goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert needed to make only one save to earn her first career shutout. Despite the close score, the Bulls dominated the contest, outshooting Northern Illinois 27-11 and holding the Huskies to only one shot in the first half.

Playing its sixth consecutive road game on Sunday, the Bulls fell to Western Michigan, 5-0, in Kalamazoo. The loss drops the Bulls to 1-2-3 overall and 1-1-0 in the MAC.

The Broncos scored three first-half goals to set the tone.

The Bulls will play their home opener against Central Michigan at 7 p.m. tomorrow at RAC Field.

Tennis

Men open season on strong note at St. Bonaventure Classic

UB opened the 2002-03 season over the weekend with some impressive victories at the St. Bonaventure Fall Classic. The classic was an individual event with no team scoring.

Two Bulls, sophomores Randy Rocchio and Josh Leiderman, went undefeated in their three matches. Rocchio rallied to win Sunday's finale over St. Bonaventure's Mikko Haulo in a tiebreaker, 6-3, 2-6, 12-10. Rocchio opened play by breezing past Youngstown State's Kevin Schaffert, 6-1, 7-5, on Friday, and Dan Schoenberr of Rochester, 6-0, 6-4, on Sunday.

Leiderman endured two three-set matches, dropping Youngstown State's Colin Larouere, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, on Friday, and Brian Shenker of Rochester, 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, on Saturday. Leiderman also downed Niagara's Jason Pope in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6, on Sunday.

Two other Bulls, senior Fery Kasiman and sophomore Nick Zieziula, each went 2-1. Both won their matches on Friday and Saturday before falling in Sunday's matches to opponents from St. Bonaventure. Kasiman dropped a heartbreaking tiebreaker match to the Bonnies' Vili Nurmi, 7-5, 3-6, 10-4, to complete the tournament.