University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: October 31, 2002

Football

Kent State 16, UB 12

Kent State University capitalized on huge first-half turnovers and held off a furious UB rally to score a 16-12 Mid-American Conference victory over the Bulls on Saturday in UB Stadium.

The Bulls' defense allowed just 250 yards of total offense and three points in the game, but the difference was two first-half miscues by UB. With the game scoreless in the second quarter and the Bulls on a drive to the Kent State 19, quarterback Randall Secky had his pass tipped and returned 75 yards by Shawn Armstead for the game's first score.

Later in the quarter, the Golden Flashes capitalized again on a UB mistake, this time on special teams. A punt by Scott McMahan was blocked in the end zone by Lucas Bowen and recovered by Scott Booker for a touchdown. UB redshirt freshman Bill Meholif blocked the extra point and Kent led, 13-0, at halftime.

While UB continued to struggle offensively, Kent State built its lead to 16-0 on a 39-yard field goal by Travis Mayle to cap a 14-play drive early in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls, out of sync through three quarters-due in part, to the absence of three of its wide receivers due to injury-came to life in the fourth quarter behind Secky's scrambling and passing. Secky hit 7-of-10 passes on the ensuing drive, including an 11-yard pass to freshman Tim Dance to get UB on the board. UB went for two points after the touchdown, but tailback Aaron Leeper was stopped a foot short of the goal line, leaving the score 16-6, in favor of the Golden Flashes.

Secky and Dance, however, weren't finished. After the Bulls forced Kent State into a three-and-out punt, UB moved 72 yards in nine plays, with Secky scrambling three times and the Bulls overcoming a 2nd-and-17 situation. After a five-yard scramble, Secky hit Dance for a 17-yard touchdown with 3:42 remaining and UB was within striking distance. However, placekicker Dallas Pelz missed the extra point that could have brought UB to within a field goal.

"It was a very hard-fought game by both sides," said UB head coach Jim Hofher. "I think our defense did a terrific job in holding Kent State to a field goal. They played very hard.

"Two big plays in the first half-the deflection intercept return and the blocked punt-were very costly plays and made the difference in the outcome of the game," Hofher noted. "It was a valiant effort all the way around in the second half, in particular the fourth quarter. The kids did a terrific job this week in getting ready for this ballgame and it showed today."

The Bulls are off this week as they prepare to take on the newest member of the MAC, Central Florida, in a Nov. 9 contest in UB Stadium. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m.

Volleyball

Western Michigan 3, UB 0
Eastern Michigan 3, UB 0

UB fell to Western Michigan in three straight, 30-18, games to open the weekend road trip on Friday. The Bulls were led by junior Alexis Bouie, with eight kills and four blocks. Sophomore Molly Schrantz added five kills, 15 assists and two blocks. Lindsay Matikosh posted a match-high 12 digs.

On Saturday night, the Bulls fell to 9-16 overall and 1-10 in the MAC with a 3-0 loss at Eastern Michigan, 30-19, 30-21, 30-28. Matikosh recorded her 18th double-double of the season with team highs of 10 kills and 13 digs.

Bouie finished the night with nine kills and a match-high six blocks for UB, while junior Emily Dills had seven kills, five digs and four blocks.

The Bulls will return home this weekend for a single match at 7 p.m. tomorrow against Kent State in Alumni Arena.

Soccer

MEN'S

Akron 3, UB 0

Akron topped the Bulls, 3-0, on Friday night in the cold and rain at Lee Jackson Field in Akron.

Despite the slippery and soggy conditions, the Zips managed to take 17 shots, nine of which were on goal. UB's offense was held to just five shots, with three coming on goal.

The night's scoring began at 23:46 when Alex Odwell found the net off a long pass from Chris Gnandt. The contest remained at 1-0 until Hans Jorgen Haugland scored at 82:54; an insurance goal at 89:45 by Dino Campellone put things further out of reach for the Bulls.

UB goalkeeper Brian Wozniak managed to make six saves in the loss. Akron's net minder Dan Pinho recorded three saves to earn his third shutout of the season

The loss drops the Bulls to 6-7-1 overall and 3-3-0 in the MAC.

WOMEN'S

UB 3, Kent State 0
UB 3, Ohio 0

UB secured a MAC Tournament bid with a pair of 3-0 shutouts over the weekend.

The Bulls scored two first-half goals and got stellar play in net to earn a 3-0 win over Kent State on Friday under rainy conditions at the Kent State Soccer Field to open the weekend.

UB scored two goals late in the first half as Natalia Crofut connected at the 44:21 mark. The goal, her third of the season, moved her into a tie for the team-lead. With a mere one second remaining on the first half clock, Lauren West snuck one past Golden Flashes' goalkeeper Lindsey Mitchell for her first collegiate goal. The Bulls' final goal was scored by Pamela Schneck at the 59:17 mark. It was also the first goal of Schneck's collegiate career.

The Bulls, who were outshot 19-9 on the afternoon, got a tremendous effort from goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert. The redshirt freshman made a career-high eight saves to earn her third shutout of the season.

UB gained a spot in the playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Ohio at RAC Field on Sunday.

After a scoreless first half, the Bulls turned on the pressure in the second stanza. Robin Aparo scored the Bulls' first goal when she took a pass from West and found the back of the net in the 61st minute. It was Aparo's second goal of the season.

Emily Russell scored the Bulls' second goal when Ohio goalkeeper Michelle Meglaughlin was unable to control a rebound and Russell was able to chip the ball into an empty net at the 73:40 mark.

Jenny Dannecker added an insurance goal in the 84th minute as Calvert made four saves for the Bulls to earn her fourth shutout of the season and second in as many games.

With the win, the Bulls improve to 6-7-5 overall and 5-5-2 in the conference. The Bulls will host Binghamton in the final match of the regular season at 7 p.m. today at RAC Field. The MAC Tournament will begin with quarterfinal play at campus sites on Nov. 5.

Swimming

WOMEN'S

UB 163, Siena 81

UB opened the 2002-03 season with a 163-81 victory over Siena College on Saturday afternoon. The win was the third straight for the Bulls over the Saints in as many seasons.

UB won nine of the 13 events, with junior Jolie Pun and sophomore Jennefer Brankovsky each taking a pair of individual events to lead the Bulls. Pun won the 200 freestyle in 1:56.16 and followed with a victory in the 500 freestyle in 5:13.37. Brankovsky, who set seven school records at last season's MAC Championships, took the 200 butterfly in 2:11.78, winning the race by nearly four seconds. She took the 200 breaststroke in 2:29.03.

Both swimmers were also part of UB's winning relay teams. Brankovsky joined Lisa Boettrich, Tiffany Woods and Tanya Ng Yuen to take the opening race of the meet, the 400 medley relay, in 4:10.70. Pun also was part of UB's victorious 400 free relay squad in the meet's final event, joining with Trina Sinclair, Jackie English and Melissa Schafer for a 3:45.35 clocking.

Woods and Boettrich finished one-two in the 200 individual medley. Woods took the race in 2:16.32, followed closely by Boettrich in 2:16.40. Sinclair won the 100 freestyle in 55.45. Sophomore Kimberly LaHaye earned a win in the one-meter diving competition with 260.30 points.

The Bulls will open the MAC season on Saturday with a tri-meet against Akron and Ohio in Akron.

Tennis

MEN'S

Bulls find going rough at ITA regionals

UB sent three players to the Omni/ITA Eastern Regional Championships in Philadelphia over the weekend with mixed results.

In singles play, senior Fery Kasiman began with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Lehigh's Ty Esler in the opening round of 128. Kasiman then moved on to the round of 64, where he faced Penn State's Nate Emge, seeded 15th in the tournament. Kasiman fought hard, but was eliminated by Emge in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

UB's doubles duo of Randy Rocchio and Nick Zieziula wasn't as fortunate in its bracket. The pair was bounced in the opening round of 64 by the 15th-seeded duo of Josh Burman and Tim Kofol of Princeton by an 8-1 count in the pro-set match.

The Bulls hope to improve on their showings in Philadelphia with this weekend's Cornell Fall Invitational. At last season's event, Kasiman became the first Bulls player to reach the semifinals, falling to the tournament's top-seeded player, Rutgers' Anthony Jagdale, 7-5, 6-0.