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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's soccer team and head coach John Astudillo have announced the addition of five players for the 2002 season. Joining the Bulls this fall are freshmen Michael Battiste (Rexford, NY/Niskayuna), Thomas (T.J.) Osborne (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia HS), Greg Galemore (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) and Matt Stuczynski (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) and junior college transfer Mike Skonieczki (Vestal, NY/Herkimer County Community College).

Battiste, a 6-3 defender, was a first-team All-Suburban Council and All-Section II selection and a second-team All-State honoree. A team co-captain, he scored 49 goals and had 67 assists in his high school career at Niskayuna. He has competed in the Empire State Games for the past two seasons.

Osborne, 5-11 midfielder, has also competed in the Empire State Games for the past two seasons. Last summer, he led his Adirondack team to its first gold medal since 1991 when he scored two goals in the second overtime period of the gold-medal game against Central.

Galemore led West Morris Central to a state championship title in 2000 and to sectional titles in 1999 and 2000. The 5-11 forward led his team in scoring for three straight seasons and was named to the All-Morris County Team in 2000 and 2001. He also played on the New Jersey State Olympic Development Team in 2001 and on the Matchfit Academy Under-18 club team that won the 2001 State Cup.

Stuczynski, a 6-2 defender, was named to the All-State First Team after leading Cathedral Prep to a 21-2-1 record and the 2001 Pennsylvania State Championship title. He became the first-ever Metro League player to earn All-State First Team honors.

Skonieczki, a 5-11 forward, led Herkimer CCC to an undefeated 21-0 record and the NJCAA National Championship title in 2000, while playing with current Buffalo senior Jenton Esworthy (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Herkimer CCC). In 2001, Skonieczki was named to the All-Region III First Team and again led his team to the national championship game, which it lost to Macomb Community College, 2-1, after 10 rounds of penalty kicks.

"I'm very optimistic that the members of this recruiting class will be able to step in and contribute to our team immediately," said Astudillo. "It's a well-balanced group, and we're very excited to have them join us and for the 2002 season to begin."

Pat Beckley

Buffalo is coming off a 2-2 spring season that was shortened due to unseasonable weather conditions. In their final game of the spring, the Bulls squared off against the Rochester Raging Rhinos, the defending A-League Champions. Buffalo's Pat Beckley (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) scored the opening goal of the game before the Rhinos stormed back with five unanswered goals for a 5-1 win at the West Seneca Soccer Complex on April 27. The Rhinos played six college teams as part of their preseason exhibition schedule, and the Bulls were the only team to score on them. The Bulls open the 2002 season at the Central Connecticut State Tournament on August 30.