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DeKALB, IL - Senior Kevin Pitra (Solon, OH/Solon) scored his first goal of the season nine yards out off a free kick from sophomore Mike Peplinski (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) to give the University at Buffalo men's soccer team a 2-1 victory over Northern Illinois in Mid-American Conference action on Tuesday afternoon.

Kevin Pitra

The winning goal, which came just 1:54 after Northern Illinois tied the game, gives UB a final MAC record of 2-3-1. The Bulls will be the fourth seed in MAC Tournament, which will begin on Friday, November 9 at Akron, OH. Buffalo will play the winner of the final MAC match between Western Michigan and Bowling Green on Sunday, November 4.

Peplinski opened the scoring with his second goal of the season eight yards out in the center of the box. Freshman Jeff Martinko (Shelby Township, MI/DeLaSalle) and junior Dan Wielechowski (Canton, MI/Plymouth Salem) picked up assists on the goal.

NIU pressured the Bulls early in the second half and eventually tied the game at the 77:17 mark on a free kick just outside the top of the penalty area. The goal evened the score at 1-1.

The Bulls, however, responded quickly, regaining the lead on Pitra's goal less than two minutes later and held on for the victory.

Junior Brian Wozniak (Canton, MI/Plymouth Salem) stopped nine shots to earn his sixth win in goal for Buffalo.

Northern Illinois (4-11-1, 1-5-0 MAC) outshot Buffalo (7-6-2, 2-3-1 MAC), 25-17, but the Bulls held the advantage in corner kicks, 7-2.

Buffalo will close out its regular season at home with St. Francis (PA) on Friday, November 2 (7:30 p.m.). The Bulls will then have six days off before the start of the MAC postseason tournament, which begins November 9 at Akron, OH. The University of Akron will host the quarterfinals that afternoon and semifinals on November 11. The highest remaining seed will earn the right to host the conference championship match on November 17.