Russell Cicerone's Heroics Lift Bulls To 3-2 Double OT Victory Over Bryant

Friday, September 5

7 pm

University at Buffalo

1-2-0 (0-0-0MAC)

Bryant

1-2-0 (0-0-0NEC)

OT 5

OT 6

Bryant

Buffalo

Russell Cicerone's Heroics Lift Bulls To 3-2 Double OT Victory Over Bryant

9/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY – Sophomore Russell Cicerone electrified the crowd with a long distance goal to open the second overtime period on Friday night in the home opener for the University at Buffalo men's soccer team (1-2-0). Cicerone took the ball to open play in the second overtime and drilled a perfect shot into the top corner of the net for the game-winning goal.

"We showed amazing character to come from behind twice tonight and I couldn't be prouder of the lads," said head coach Stu Riddle. "We were due a result and we will enjoy this tonight before focusing on Bucknell tomorrow."

With severe storms entering the area and the possibility of the game ending in a tie nearing, Cicerone decided to take the game into his own hands and give UB their first victory of the season. Kristian Lee-Him opened the second overtime with a touch to Nicolai Berry who killed the ball perfectly for Cicerone to strike a bullet of a shot towards the Bryant goal from 60 yards out, clearing the leaping effort of the goalkeeper and going off the post and into the net for the winner.

"Amazing players do amazing things and there's really now words to describe it," said Riddle about Cicerone's game-winning tally. "It was an absolutely incredible goal but we must remember this was a great team victory."

The victory for UB did not come easy as they twice responded with goals after falling behind. In the first half, Bryant got on the board in the 11^th minute as Marco Addonizio took a perfect cross from Lucas Guerriero and headed the ball into the open net. Only 28 seconds later Cicerone scored his first highlight reel goal of the contest as he bent a shot just inside the right corner of the net after making a defender fall on his original cut. Freshman Abdulla Al-Kalisy picked up his first collegiate assist on the play.

Following a brief lightning delay early in the second half, the two teams returned to the field and the Bulls seemed to take control of the game. The Bulls best two chances to take the lead came in the 71^st minute as Cicerone saw his free kick attempt skim the cross bar and go out of play and the 82^nd minute as Fox Slotemaker had his shot attempt from in close saved by Chris Knaub.

In the 87^th minute, the Bulldogs took advantage of a turnover and Guerriero buried the go-ahead goal with 2:39 remaining in the contest. The Bulls however did not give up, drawing even at two just a minute after Bryant took the lead. Dylan Cope sent a crossing ball into the box where Berry headed it to David Enstrom's feet and he buried the ball in the back of the net for his first career goal.

The two teams went back-and-forth in the first overtime period with the Bulls earning the 3-2 advantage in shots. Neither squad was able to break through as they were forced to play a second overtime period with the severe storm barring down on them.

With only a few minutes to play before having the game called due to weather, the fans were brought to their feet by Cicerone's crazy midfield marker, just five seconds into play in the 2^nd overtime.

For the game, UB held the 24-12 advantage in shots along with the 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Waleed Cassis was solid in net for the Bulls as he made two saves while Knaub made nine saves for the Bulldogs in the losing effort. Cicerone led all players with five shots while Enstrom, Lee-Him and Berry each recorded three shots on the night.

With the win, Buffalo improves to 7-0-1 in their last eight home openers and 16-5-3 in their division I era in home openers.

The Bulls will return to UB stadium on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm as they play host to the Bucknell Bison.