MEN'S SOCCER

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Bulls Victorious In Thrilling MAC Opener, 3-2

Alex Marrello

Bowling Green (3-5-1) opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Thomas McLean scored on a free kick from 35 yards out. The Falcons doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when Cameron Hepple found the back of the net. Despite the score, the Bulls had the better of the possession in the first half, but Bowling Green was simply making the most of their opportunities. Buffalo (6-3-1) did managed to claw one goal back late in the first half when Justin Fredsell (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) found Martin John (Ottawa, Ontario/Lisgar Collegiate) all alone inside the Bowling Green six-yard box. John made no mistake with his header as he found the back of the net for his second goal of the season, cutting the Falcon lead to 2-1 in the 43rd minute.

Martin John

In the second half, UB took complete control of the match, out-shooting Bowling Green 6-1 in the second 45 minutes. Dan Bulley (Exeter, England/St. Peter's) levelled the score line in the 63rd minute when he struck a rocket from 25 yards out that beat Bowling Green goalkeeper Paul Shoemaker. The long-range bomb from Bulley was his third goal of the season.

Neither team was able to find another goal in regulation time, so for the fifth time in their last seven matches Buffalo was headed to overtime.

Dan Bulley

But the overtime session would not last very long tonight. Bowling Green took the kickoff to begin the extra period, but once Buffalo gained possession the Bulls went on the attack immediately. Dominic Oppong (Scarborough, Ontario/Cardinal Newman) started the attack down the right side and then made a pass to Eric Johnson (Cleveland, OH/West Geauga). Johnson cut inside toward the goal before finding Alex Marrello in the six-yard box. Marrello one-touched the ball into the back of the net to give the Bulls the win. For Marrello, the goal was his third of the season and his second overtime, game-winner. He also scored in overtime in a 1-0 win over Siena on September 7.

Robert Shuttleworth (Tonawanda, NY/Nichols) made three saves in goal for UB, picking up his sixth victory of the season.

Up next for the Bulls is a trip to Pittsburgh, PA on Sunday afternoon where the Bulls will take on the Duquesne University Dukes. That match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.