Bulls Drop Conference Opener to Hartwick 3-1

Leading-goal scorer Unwin scores third goal of the season

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's soccer team dropped its conference opener to Hartwick, 3-1. Leading goal-scorer Mike Unwin (Basingstoke, England/Iowa CC) led the Bulls' offensive attack, scoring off a chest pass in the 31st minute.

The Hawks scored first at the 11-minute mark off a corner kick. Owen Botting sent a bending kick into a crowd of blue and white jerseys with Nick Pratico heading the ball in for the Hawks' 1-0 lead. In the 28th minute, the Hawks doubled their advantage as Jumol Harewood scooped up a loose rebound off a shot by Steven Amaya to put the Hawks in the lead 2-0.

Mike Unwin

A few minutes later, the Bulls cut the Hawks' lead in half as they scored their first tally in the 31st minute. With a crowd in front of the Hawks' net, senior defender Steffen Thoresen led the ball up to Unwin, located near the left goal post. Unwin received the chest pass, hitting the ball home to cut the Hawks' lead to 2-1.

In the second half, the Bulls continued where they left off by coming out aggressively, placing continuous pressure on the Hawks. On an offensive attack in the 51st minute, the Hawks were able to recapture a two-goal lead off an angle shot from the left side of the 18-yard box, which bounced in off the far post for a Hawks' 3-1 lead.

Steffen Thoresen

"At times, I felt we took a step away from our game of possession. We lost our markings on guys, which allowed them to slip away and make plays especially at midfield," said head coach John Astudillo.

The Hawks held a 17-14 shot advantage in the contest.

Unwin led the Bulls' offense with a goal off six shots, four of them on net.

Sophomore Nick Fetterman recorded a career-high eight saves in 90 minutes of action.

The Bulls (3-3, 0-1 MAC) will head out for a two-game road trip this weekend when they face Robert Morris on Friday, September 25 at 4 pm followed by Duquesne on Sunday, September 27 at 1 pm.