Bulley Nets Game-Winner in Double Overtime Victory over Western Michigan 2-1

Unwin tallies late game-tying goal in 86th minute

KALAMAZOO, MI – The University at Buffalo men's soccer team closed out the 2009 season in winning fashion as the Bulls defeated Mid-American Conference opponent Western Michigan in double overtime, 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at WMU Soccer Complex. With only eight seconds remaining in the second overtime period, senior forward Dan Bulley scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway off a long-bouncing goal kick.

Dan Bulley

In the first overtime, neither team generated much offense. Looking to net the game-winner, the Bulls' offense came out aggressively in the second overtime. With neither team able to break the 1-1 tie, the Bulls made one final offensive push. Sophomore goalkeeper Nick Fetterman sent a booming goal kick towards the midfield. The ball would take a long bounce off the kick with Bulley gaining possession. Bulley was able to slip by the Broncos' defenders on a breakaway versus WMU goalikeeper Casey Aubil. Walking in on Aubil, Bulley blasted the game-winning goal with only eight seconds remaining to give the Bulls' a 2-1 come from behind victory.

Mike Unwin

Following over 85 minutes of scoreless play, the Broncos tallied the contest's first goal of the game. Leading goal scorer Saeed Sulemana-Baba received a touch pass along the left side from C.J. Brown with Sulemana-Baba finishing the play in a crowd of players to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead in the 86th minute.

Nick Fetterman

Facing a one-goal deficit, the Bulls answered quickly in just over a minute. Off a Buffalo free kick, senior Alex Marrello sent a backside pass to junior Mike Unwin, who fired a shot past Aubil to send the the game into overtime. Marrello's assist was his 16th of his career, moving him into a three-way tie for fifth place in most career assists with Tim Songer (1998-00) and Sotir Tanevski (1990-95).

"It was a great win. Down one-nil, our team hung in there. This victory showed a lot of character from our squad," said head coach John Astudillo.

Despite the loss, the Broncos held a 22-15 shot advantage in the contest.

In his sixth victory of the season, Fetterman recorded a career-high ten saves. Also, he collected his first career assist on Bulley's game-winning goal. The last Buffalo goalkeeper to collect an assist was Chris Allen on November 8, 2005 in the opening round of the MAC Tournament as UB defeated IPFW, 4-0.

Buffalo finishes the regular season with an overall record of 7-9-1 (2-4 MAC).