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BUFFALO, NY - Senior Bill Norberg (Allison Park, PA/Shaler) scored two goals off back-to-back direct kicks 50 seconds apart to lead the University at Buffalo men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over Marshall in Mid-American Conference action on Friday night. The loss was just the second of the season for Marshall, who came into the game ranked 23rd in the last National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 poll. The Bulls improve to 4-4-1 overall and 1-2 in the MAC while Marshall falls to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the MAC.

After Marshall scored first at the 20:57 mark, Norberg took advantage of consecutive identical direct kicks just outside the box, placing both in the left corner of the net to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead.

Bill Norberg

Sophomore Mike Geller (Gardiner, NY/New Paltz) then chipped the ball ahead to sophomore Patrick Beckley (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), who hurdled a sliding Marshall defender and beat the Marshall goaltender one-on-one down the middle of the field to give the Bulls a two-goal advantage in the 42nd minute.

Marshall battled back in the second half, scoring its second goal of the game at the 59:15 mark to pull within a goal as Chris Donovan tallied his first of the season.

With the Herd pressing offensively, Buffalo had several opportunities to increase its lead late in the game, but Marshall goaltender Jeremy Williams made some spectacular saves to keep the Herd in the game.

The game, which was played in the heavy rain, was extremely physical as six yellow cards were awarded and one red card was issued. With just over a minute left in the first half, Buffalo goalkeeper Brian Wozniak (Canton, MI/Plymouth Salem) took an elbow in the mouth which prompted a red card on Marshall. The senior finished the half and received five stitches before returning 12 minutes into the second half to pick up his fourth win of the season.

The Bulls will hit the road for a match on Sunday, October 14, when they travel to Kentucky for a MAC battle which will begin at 3 p.m.