Bulls Claim Mid-Week Match with Gannon

Wednesday, October 23

7 pm

University at Buffalo

3-9-3

Gannon

6-7-2

Gannon

Buffalo

Bulls Claim Mid-Week Match with Gannon

10/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY - After capitalizing on a pair of first-half errors by the Gannon University defense, the UB men's soccer team (3-9-3) earned an early lead and never looked back in a 3-1 win. The team received goals from Nicolai Berry, Russell Cicerone, and Jake Jacobs, while also getting experience for young talent in a rare late-October non-conference match.

Berry started the night off strong in the sixth minute. He carried the ball up the left side, and went to goal. After taking it nearly to the end line, he crossed a shot through the mouth of the goal, and it snuck in after deflecting off a Gannon defender. It was the freshman's second goal of the season.

Gannon would make another mental error in the 27th minute, when Daniel Cramarossa pressured a ball that drew out the opposing goalie to the top of the box. After hammering Cramarossa, it was ruled that the goalie was outside the box, giving him an immediate yellow card and a free kick from 18 yards out. Cicerone smoothly curled a shot over the five-man wall that was unstoppable, netting his team-high fifth goal of the year.

Despite the 2-0 advantage, the Bulls were largely out-played by the Golden Knights through the first half, leading to the opposition scoring a goal in the 34th minute and advantages in shots and corner kicks heading into halftime. The Bulls came out with a renewed spirit in the second half, limiting Gannon to only five total shots while the offense generated seven chances on goal among 11 shots in the final 45 minutes.

After a handful of close calls on offense, UB put the game away in the 73rd minute off a set play. Nicolai Berry curled a left-footed corner kick into the box. A clear attempt instead found Cicerone, who kept it in the box long enough for Jacobs to find it for a point-blank goal.

The UB defense saw contributions from Alec Fisher and goalie Andrew Siviy, both making their first career starts as true freshman. Siviy made six saves in the win.

"It was a disappointing first half, they (Gannon) were very unlucky to be behind," head coach Stu Riddle. "I was much more pleased with the second half and finding that third goal and killing off the game. Ultimately we got what we needed, which was a win, and a lot of guys got minutes."

The Bulls will play one last non-conference game, traveling south to take on Belmont on Saturday at 6 pm. The team will have one last home game, when it hosts West Virginia on Nov. 1 for Senior Day.