University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: September 28, 2006

Football

Auburn 38, UB 7

UB put forth an inspired effort before eventually falling to second-ranked Auburn University, 38-7, before 84,921 spectators in Jordan-Hare Stadium-the largest crowd to ever see a Bulls' football game,

The Bulls-seven-touchdown underdogs going into the game-played an inspired first half, matching Auburn with seven first downs and only trailing 10-0 at intermission. Auburn held just a 123-101 advantage in total yards in the first half.

One play in the second half seemed to turn the momentum of the game. After a chop-block penalty forced Auburn into a second-and-24, Brandon Cox hit fullback Carl Stewart with a screen pass that covered 54 yards to inside the UB 15-yard line. Lester eventually scored from four yards out and the extra point gave the Tigers a 17-0 lead with 12:28 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bulls became the first team to score a touchdown against Auburn since the first week of the season-a span of more than 11 quarters-when they narrowed the lead to 17-7 with 5:33 remaining in the third. It capped a lengthy drive of 15 plays, covered 80 yards and was interrupted for several minutes for a video review of a fourth-down catch by freshman Naaman Roosevelt. Sophomore quarterback Drew Willy hit four of six passes on the drive, including the crucial fourth-down connection to Roosevelt, and finished the drive by rolling right and hitting senior Evan Wallace on another fourth-down play from the Tiger five-yard line.

The Tigers, winners of 17 of their last 18 games at Jordan-Hare Stadium, responded with a 71-yard drive of their own for a touchdown. That score sealed the victory for Auburn.

The Bulls are off this weekend, returning to play on Oct. 7 when they host Ball State at 1 p.m. in UB Stadium in the annual homecoming clash.

Soccer

MEN'S

Duquesne 2, UB 1
UB 2, Siena 0

UB stumbled in Friday night's home match with Duquesne, falling to the Atlantic-10 opponent 2-1. The Bulls continued their nine-game streak of not giving up a first-half goal, but the Dukes were able to capitalize with two scores in the final 45 minutes to end UB's four-game win streak.

On Sunday, UB picked up its fourth road win of the season, toppling in-state rival Siena, 2-0. The win marked head coach John Astudillo's 150th career win. Astudillo, now in his 18th season as head coach of the Bulls, is the only coach in UB soccer history to reach that mark.

The Bulls (6-3-1) scored first goal of the game at 30:14 in the first half when senior forward Andrae Clarke lofted the ball over the Siena goalkeeper from the left side of the box. The second goal came at the 54:21 mark. With the Siena goalkeeper out of the net, senior Brian Knapp rifled a cannon shot into the right side of the open net for his second goal of the year.

UB travels to IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne) tomorrow for its first Mid-American Conference match of the year.

WOMEN'S

Miami (OH) 3, UB 1
Ball State 3, UB 2

UB opened MAC play Friday afternoon, falling to the Miami (OH) University RedHawks, 3-1. Freshman Caitlin Higgins scored her third goal in two games and sophomore Jenessa Banwell inked her first assist of the season for the Bulls.

UB also came up short on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Ball State Cardinals, 3-2. Freshman Julie Dale and sophomore Ashley Turner picked up one goal each, while Higgins and senior Jessica Roesch were each credited with an assist.

The Bulls (3-6-0, 0-2-0) will be back in action tomorrow at home, taking on Eastern Michigan in a 7 p.m. MAC match-up.

Volleyball

UB 3, Niagara 0
Kent State 3, UB 0
Ohio 3, UB 1

UB got back to its winning ways on Sept. 19, defeating Niagara, 3-0, in the Gallagher Center. The win equaled the Bulls' win total of 11 from 2005.

UB defeated the Purple Eagles, 30-26, 30-22, 30-26 in what was a total team effort. UB played its most complete game in the second game, scoring the 30-22 victory. Down 8-6 early in the contest, the Bulls embarked on an 11-2 run that was capped off by solid serving from senior Nikki Morzenti and freshman Ellen Robertson. In all, UB hit a .282 (14-3-39) in that game.

UB dropped its MAC opener on Friday night, falling to the Kent State Golden Flashes, 3-0, in Alumni Arena.

Although the Bulls were beaten 30-27, 30-22, 30-19 by the visiting Golden Flashes, they did receive a record-breaking performance from Junior Lizaiha Garcia, who recorded a career-high 32 digs in the three games and shattered the school-record of 23 digs in a three-game match that was set by Chassey Stubler against Canisius in 1998.

The Bulls were unable to pull off an upset of the 20th-ranked team in the nation, the Ohio Bobcats, on Saturday night, dropping a 3-1 decision in Alumni Arena. The loss drops UB to 11-7 on the year and 0-2 in conference play.

The Bobcats, who dropped just five games to conference opponents all of last season, defeated UB 30-18, 30-12, 24-30, 30-15 and outhit the Bulls .354 to .124.

UB will host conference opponents Akron tomorrow and Ball State on Saturday. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m.

Cross Country

UB men win Stampede Invitational; women finish fourth

The UB men's cross country team pulled out a stunning two-point victory over Cornell on Saturday to take the team title at the UB Stampede Invitational held at Beaver Island State Park. The Bulls (28 points) placed the first three runners across the finish line ahead of the Big Red (30 points) to provide the margin of victory. Ten men's squads comprised the field.

In the women's race, UB placed fourth with 89 points in the 11-team field. Cornell took first place with 20 points. A light drizzle during the women's race, followed by clearing skies for the men's race, created a wet, spongy surface on the grass course.

Senior Dan McKenna took the top spot in the men's 8K race, finishing in 27:04.90. UB runners Andy Leonard finished in 27:10.00 for second place and Jesse Mang was third in 27:14.20.

Cornell runners took four of the top five spots in the women's 5K race to open the meet. Toni-Lynn Salucci took first place for Cornell in 18:13.70.

UB sophomore Mary Veith was the highest finisher for the Bulls, taking third place in 18:28.30. Junior Alekesanda Bykowska finished in 15th place with a time of 19:34.20.

UB will travel to Lehigh University for the Paul Short Invitational on Saturday.