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Three Goals In First Half Holds Off IPFW In MAC Opening Round

Lee Catchpole

With nearly the entire team getting adequate playing time, the Bulls looked confident as they quietly took control early in the first half. Sophomore Lee Catchpole (Norwich, England/Bungay) came off the bench after having been sidelined for the last three games with an injury. With Catchpole’s lighting-quick feet readily available, the Bulls rode a flurry of offensive charges ultimately leading to the first goal of the game, scored by fellow sophomore Shyle Braithwaite (Brampton, Ontario/Philip Pocock Catholic). Junior Andrae Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica/DeWitt Clinton) set up Catchpole on the right side, where the sophomore middie one-timed the ball to Braithwaite with a light tap.

With the home crowd excited, the Bulls faced yet another opportunity to score. Senior captain Greg Galemore (Rochester, NY/West Morris Central) battled between two defenders in the box to gain control of the ball. With one smooth kick, the ball fell to the back of the net and gave UB a 2-0 lead.

Shyle Braithwaite

With three minutes remaining in the first half, Braithwaite, soon after ending his 10-game point drought with the first goal of the game, gave Buffalo a comfortable 3-0 lead when he headed a brilliant cross from junior Sola Abolaji (Denver, CO/Eagle Crest) that went into the top left corner.

The second half gave the Bulls a chance to showcase their bench depth. Sophomore Chris Allen (Big Flats, NY/Corning Painted Post) saw his first minutes as a Bull when he entered the game with 18 minutes left in the game. After making two key saves, Allen picked up his first assist as he pushed the ball up to freshman Marc Stencel (Cheektowaga, NY/Cheektowaga), who then fired a 55-yard boot into the empty goal, inhabited by IPFW’s Michael Knitter who came out of the net to serve as a defender.

Junior Daniel Bell (Brampton, Ontario/Notre Dame), with his 13th win this season, breaks the UB all-time record for most wins in a season, previously held by Jim Schoenberg in 1998. He made two saves while recording his eighth shutout of the year.

The win sends Buffalo to Akron where they will contest with second-seed Northern Illinois on Nov. 11 at 5 pm. If the Bulls advance, they will face the winner of the Akron/Western Michigan on Nov. 13 at 2 pm.