Bulls Add Pair of Men's Soccer Players for 2012
2/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's soccer team has added two players who will transfer to UB and be eligible for the 2012 season according to head coach John Astudillo. Defenders Andrew Lill and Steven Mounnarat each have completed two seasons and will have junior eligibility when the Bulls hit the field in the fall of 2012.
Lill played two seasons at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, registering three assists in the 2011 season. He started 28 games on defense and appeared in 32 contests for the Explorers in 2010 and 2011. Lill had an assist in LaSalle's 2011 Atlantic 10 semifinal match against George Washington and helped the team reach the conference final in 2010. A graduate of Rochester's Aquinas Institute and a native of Webster, NY, Lill helped his high school team to three consecutive Section V Class A finals and was named MVP of the 2009 match. In 2009 he was also named to the All-Greater Rochester team and was selected as Aquinas' team MVP.. A six-year starter for the New York State West Olympic Development Program regional team, Lill also helped the Rochester Junior Rhinos team to the State Cup Championship in 2008 and a two-year starter on the USSF/Empire United Soccer Academy's U-18 team.
Mounnarat spent two years at Monroe Community College, scoring one goal with three assists in 2011. The Tribunes went 13-4-1 in 2011 and reached the Northeast District Tournament. A two-year starter, the Penfield, N.Y. native was selected to the all-conference team this past fall. Mounnarat had both of Monroe's assists in their 2-0 win over CCBC-Catonsville on September 4 and scored a goal in a victory over Alfred State on October 19. A three-year starter at Penfield High School, he was selected to the 2009 All-Greater Rochester team and a two-year starter on the USSF/Empire United Soccer Academy's U-18 team.
"We are delighted to welcome these two outstanding young men into our Bull soccer family," Associate Head Coach David Hesch said. "Andrew and Steve have both excelled in the classroom and on the soccer field. Both players come from Western New York and will make an immediate impact this spring. They have fit in right away with the team and they have qualities that we are looking for in student-athletes here at Buffalo."
Members of the Mid-American Conference, the Bulls finished 8-8-2 in 2011 reaching the league semifinals.
