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Sophomore forward Steve Butcher (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) was named the 1997 Mid-Continent Conference Newcomer-of-the-Year it was announced on Friday (11/7) morning. Butcher, who finished as the conference's leading scorer, was also one of seven Bulls named to the All-Mid-Con team.

Butcher had one of the most prolific seasons ever recorded by a men's soccer player at the University at Buffalo, scoring 16 goals and four assists (36 points) in the Bulls' 18 games this season. In addition to leading the Mid-Continent Conference in points (36), points per game (2.00) and goals per game (0.88), Butcher was ranked fourth and second in the New York Region (21 schools) in both scoring and goals scored, and 13th and 8th in the country in points and goals as of November 3rd. With points in 10 of UB's 18 games in 1997, Butcher scored perhaps the biggest goal in program history when he notched the gamewinner, his second goal of the game, in an upset win at then-#19 Notre Dame on September 13th.

In addition to Butcher, two other members of the UB men's soccer team were also named first-team All-Mid-Continent Conference while four others were named second-team all-conference. Freshman midfielder Brian McCallion (Ballston Spa, NY/Shenendehowa) and senior back Tristan Burton (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) were received first-team honors for their efforts during the 1997 season. McCallion started all 18 games and was the Bulls' second-leading scorer behind Butcher with five goals and four assists (14 points). Burton saw action in 17 games for UB, and was the leader of a defense that featured several first-year players.

Four other Bulls were named second-team All-Mid-Continent Conference: senior goalkeeper Christian Barletta (Wading River, NY./Shoreham-Wading River), junior midfielder Brian Cruickshank (Babylon, NY/St. John the Baptist), junior back Doug Geller (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) and senior midfielder Tim Merrick (Clinton, MD/Surrattsville). Barletta stepped in for injured starter Jim Schoenberg mid-season and posted a 1.44 GAA in 11 games with a .779 save percentage. Cruickshank, along with Geller and Merrick, were important reasons why the Bulls scored the most goals in three seasons (38).