MEN'S SOCCER

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's soccer team announced its 2000 team awards at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet, held at Samuel's Grande Manor on Tuesday, May 1. Senior Joe Peplinski (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was named Most Valuable Player, and sophomore Mike Peplinski (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), earned Top Newcomer honors. Sophomore Geoff Thompson (Clarence, NY/Clarence) was named Most Improved Player, while senior Chris Vinci (Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph's) received the team's Coach's Award. In addition, Vinci was also honored with the Athletic Department's Unsung Hero Award, and senior Brian McCallion (Ballston Spa, NY/ Shenendehowa) received the Clifford C. Furnas Award.

Joe Peplinski suffered a season-ending injury last year when he collided with an Akron player while going for a header just five games into his junior season. He came back to play in his senior season, starting 17 games and providing leadership and stability on the defensive side of the field. Peplinski has started all 56 games he has played in at UB, and he scored one goal during his freshman campaign.

Forward Mike Peplinski finished the 2000 season tied as the third -leading scorer on the team with one goal and three assists for five points after playing his freshman season at West Virginia. Peplinski started 15 games on the year and had 11 shots on goal.

Thompson, a midfielder, played in 16 games this past season, starting six and scoring a goal in a 2-1 win at Long Island on September 17. Thomspon appeared in 13 games as a freshman, tallying one goal and one assist for three points.

Vinci finished the 2000 season tied with Mike Peplinski with five points on the year, scoring two goals and adding one assist while playing in 14 games. In addition to the Coach's Award, he received the Unsung Hero Award which is given to an athlete who has shown exceptional leadership and character and whose contributions to his or her respective team goes well beyond accomplishments on the field. Vinci was selected to receive the award by members of UB's Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

McCallion, the other specialty award winner on the men's soccer team, earned a postgraduate scholarship by winning the Clifford C. Furnas Award, given annually in the former UB President's name to a student-athlete who is pursuing graduate work while excelling both academically and athletically throughout his or her undergraduate career. McCallion, a midfielder/forward, finished his career ranking second all-time at UB in career assists (17), 11th in career goals (16) and seventh in career points (49) while starting all 75 career games. A UB Scholar Athlete and a member of the Academic All-MAC Team, McCallion was an All-MAC first-team selection as a senior and an All-MAC second-team selection as a junior.

The Bulls finished the 2000 season with a 6-10-2 overall record and a 1-5-0 MAC mark while advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament.