Bulls Play MAC Leader Akron Tough But Fall, 5-2

Friday, October 21

7:30 pm

University at Buffalo

7-7-1 (2-2MAC)

Akron

11-2-2 (4-0MAC)

AKRON

Buffalo

Bulls Play MAC Leader Akron Tough But Fall, 5-2

10/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's soccer team took on defending national champion and current Mid-American Conference leader Akron on Friday night at UB Stadium with the Bulls suffering a 5-2 loss to the Zips. All seven goals were scored in the second half.

UB (7-7-1, 2-2 MAC) took the first lead of the night at the 48:47 mark of the match as Richard Craven scored his third goal of the season into the lower left side of the net. Patrick Ryan drew the Akron defense to the right side and passed to Craven on his left as Craven fired the shot into the open net. The assist gave Ryan the team lead with his fifth helper of the season.

Akron (11-2-2, 4-0 MAC), ranked fourth in the country, tied the match at 59:13 as 2010 MAC Newcomer of the Year Darren Mattocks scored the first of his three goals on the night. Mattocks picked up the loose ball in front of the net when Akron's Luke Holmes and UB goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi collided to the ground giving Mattocks the easy marker.

UB regained the lead, 2-1, after Mattocks pulled down UB's Joey Merlo in the box at the 62:16 mark. Senior Andy Tiedt converted on the penalty kick for his team leading fifth goal of the season.

The Zips quickly tied the match again at 63:41 when Mattocks scored his second goal of the contest. Holmes broke the tie at 65:24 with an unassisted goal as he beat Viscosi at the lower left side of the net.

Akron added goals in the 71st and 78th minutes on markers by Scott Caldwell and Mattocks. Mattocks earned an assist on the Caldwell goal finishing with seven points on the night.

Viscosi registered six saves for the Bulls while Akron's David Meves allowed two goals and made one save. The Bulls' two goals on the night were the first allowed by the Zips in conference play this season and second only to the three goals No. 19 UC Santa Barbara scored in a 3-2 overtime win over Akron on October 5.

Although Akron put up five goals on the Bulls, interim head coach David Hesch thought his team's defense was strong. "Their first couple of goals were just bad luck, we could have had them,"

With two games remaining, at Florida Atlantic and home against Hartwick, the Bulls are still in the thick of the MAC's playoff race as the top four teams earn spots in the league tournament but control their own destiny. "Our backs are against the wall now with two games to go," stated Hesch.

UB travels to Fort Lauderdale to face Florida Atlantic on October 29 in their next matchup. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm.