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UB Men's Soccer Impress In Spring Tournament

Marc Stencel

The initial tournament name, the Second Annual Big 4 Spring Tournament, was changed to the Western New York Open Tournament after Big 4 rival St. Bonaventure pulled out at the last second due to undisclosed reasons. Local club team, the Rochester Junior Rhinos, took the last spot in the tournament.

Andrae Clarke

In the first game of the spring tournament, UB contested against Niagara. After posting a 3-1 victory against the Purple Eagles last season, Buffalo battled for possession on the pitch, outshooting Niagara 10-5, but could not find the back of the net. After 60 minutes of play, both teams drew a tie at 0-0.

The Bulls took a break from the action and became spectators for the next three games. The Rochester Junior Rhinos, a 16-17 club team, were slated for the next two games. In their first game against Niagara, the Junior Rhinos fell by a score of 3-0. The team drew blanks again in the following game, taking their second consecutive loss against Canisius, 2-0. In the fourth game, Niagara shut out Canisius, 2-0, to take the tournament lead after four games.

UB returned to the field against the Junior Rhinos, posting a 3-0 win and ending their brief scoring drought. A goal by freshman Marc Stencel (Cheektowaga, NY/Cheektowaga) put the Bulls on the scoreboard, while Oneonta-transfer Dan Stevens (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) netted two goals.

The final game of the tournament proved to determine who would be tournament champions, as the Bulls took on Canisius. UB's leading scorer last season, junior forward Andrae Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica/DeWitt Clinton), landed the only two goals of the game and lifted the Bulls to victory.

Dan Gwyther

Buffalo outshot its opponents 40-11. Clarke was named offensive MVP, while freshman Dan Gwyther (London, England/Woodcote) was named defensive MVP, who both contributed in the Bulls' three shutouts in the tournament.

Western New York Open All-Tournament Team

GK - Matt Houghton, Canisius
F - Andrae Clarke, Buffalo
F - Matt Stedman, Niagara
F - Simba Aberdeen, Canisius
M - Dan Stevens, Buffalo
M - Lucas Martorana, Buffalo
D - Dan Gwyther, Buffalo
D - Paul Vandenboomen, Niagara
D - Brian Leonard, Niagara

1st game - UB 0, Niagara 0
2nd game - Niagara 3, Jr Rhinos 0
3rd game - Canisius 1, Jr. Rhinos 0
4th game - Niagara 2, Canisius 0
5th game - UB 3, Jr. Rhinos 0
6th game - UB 2, Canisius 0