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Buffalo Ranked Among Nation's Best

John Astudillo

In alluring fashion, the Bulls appeared in the MAC Championship game for the first time in team history, where they took the third ranked team in the nation, Akron, into double overtime and an eventual shootout. Although the Bulls barely missed a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, the Bulls had finished the season ranked among the top teams in the nation in most team and individual statistical categories, as released by the NCAA at the season’s conclusion.

Andrae Clarke

Out of 30 teams ranked, UB battled its way into a top ten ranking in four of the five major offensive categories. The Bulls were among Division-I’s best in won-lost-tied percentage (fifth, .789), team goals against average (sixth, 0.62), and were the ninth highest-scoring offense (2.37 goals per game). Regular season and MAC tournament champions Akron claimed the top spots in each of those categories after falling in the Elite Eight to the eventual 2005 NCAA Champion Maryland. Buffalo also placed eighth in shots on goal save percentage (0.842) and 12th in shutout percentage (0.53 shutouts per game).

Two Bulls also finished in the top 30 in individual statistical categories. Junior forward Andrae Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica/DeWitt Clinton) finished ninth in the nation in assists per game (0.58) and 28th in points per game (1.53). Clarke had a career year, scoring nine goals and 11 assists. His 11 assists are the most ever in a single season while his 29 overall points ranks him fifth in UB history. Clarke was a second-team All-MAC selection, second team NSCAA/adidas All-New York Region, and third team National Team of the Season.

Daniel Bell

Fellow junior, goalkeeper Daniel Bell (Brampton, Ontario/Notre Dame) also had a record-breaking season, becoming UB’s all-time leader in career wins (23) and total wins in a single season (14). Among the rest of Division-I, Bell ranked 11th in goals against average (0.654) and 21st in shots on goal save percentage (0.821). Bell received Academic All-MAC honors along with being named honorable mention Scholar All-East Region by NSCAA/adidas.

By going 14-3-2 on the year, UB was also honored with most improved team accolades by turning a 5.5 game improvement from 2004 where the team went 8-8-2. It was the 10th best turnaround in Division-I following the 2004 season where UB had a 6.5 game improvement after going 1-12-3 in 2003.

14 wins and a trip to the conference championship game solidifies the 2005 University at Buffalo men’s soccer team as one of the most successful teams in school history.