Bowling Green
Bulls Edged in Close Battle by Falcons 4-3
10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's soccer team
continually battled against Mid-American Conference opponent
Bowling Green throughout the contest, following a one-goal deficit
to start the second half. The Bulls erupted for three goals in the
second half as did the Falcons to eventually capture a 4-3 victory
over Buffalo at UB Stadium on Friday evening.
To start the contest, the Bulls came out on the attack with three
straight shots. Bowling Green began to create their own offensive
presence with four consecutive shots. With pressure placed on the
Buffalo end, the Bulls shut down Bowling Green's first corner kick
opportunity. On the Falcons' next corner kick on the opposite side,
Bowling Green's Hunter Van Houten dropped the ball into the scrum
in front of the net with Jacob Lawrence hitting the ball in,
breaking the scoreless contest to give BG a 1-0 lead.
At the start of the second half, the Bulls came out how they
started the contest on the attack. In the 47th minute, Mike Unwin
set up Lucas Bassan with a well-executed pass. As Bassan barreled
towards the net, he sent a blast from 20 yards out beating the
Falcons' goalkeeper Dylan Schoettley to tie the contest at 1-1.
The Bulls continued their attack in the second half as Akil Howard
walked through the middle of the Falcons' defense. With Unwin to
his right, Howard dished a pass out to Unwin on the attack. Unwin
dribbled the ball to the right side of the 18-yard box, pulling the
Falcons' Schoettley out of place. On a tough angle to cover, UB's
leading scorer ripped the angled shot into the net to give the
Bulls a 2-1 lead in the 67th minute.
In the 70th minute, the Falcons managed to tie the contest at 2-2.
The Falcons' Van Houten sent a low pass inside the 18-yard box to
Cameron Hepple, who buried the shot to tie the contest.
Seven minutes later, Bowling Green captured a 3-2 lead off an
unassisted goal by Heppel, who came up the middle uncontested.
The Bulls fought right back to tie the contest. In the 79th minute,
Tom Beckvermit fed a pass to Alex Marrello, who ripped a shot from
40 yards out that took an odd bounce to beat Schoettely. Marrello's
goal was his first of the season, tying the contest at 3-3.
Beckvermit's assist on the tally was his first career point.
As the teams continually battled for possession, the Falcons would
receive a penalty kick in the 86th minute off a foul in the top of
the Bulls' 18-yard box. The game's opening goal scorer, Lawrence,
lined up to take the penalty kick for the Falcons and converted on
the penalty kick to give the Falcons a 4-3 lead with under five
minutes remaining in the contest.
In the contest, the Bulls held a 16-11 shot advantage after
trailing 7-5 following the first half.
"We played well. We continually fought throughout the contest.
Ultimately, our lack of discipline and mistakes hurt us," said
associate head coach David Hesch.
"The second half was a great effort. It showed the fight inside our
young men. I am confident that we will bounce back. It will no
doubt take hard work and preparation but we can do it," added head
coach John Astudillo.
The Bulls (5-8, 0-3 MAC) will return to action next week when they
host Akron, the first-place team in the MAC on Friday, October 23
at 7:30 pm.
