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UB upsets second-seeded Northern Illinois, 2-0

Erik Jaanimagi

In the last meeting between the two teams, Northern Illinois squeezed out a close but decisive victory over the Bulls, 1-0. With some key contributors to the UB offense out due to injuries, the Bulls were unable to come away with the essential conference win. The defeat capped off the regular season for the Bulls, who returned to action two weeks later in the MAC quarterfinals only to demolish the sixth-seeded IPFW on Tuesday, 4-0.

Trying to capture an early lead, the UB offense were relentless in the first half. The squad exhibited brilliant teamwork and tremendous hustle that ultimately led to the first goal of the game. Junior Erik Jannimagi (Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) began the fast break down the pitch on the right side of the field. Jaanimagi led senior Greg Galemore (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central), sending the ball up the sideline, where Galemore, with a lightning-quick boot, released a cross into the box. With the ball floating effortlessly in the clear night sky, junior Andrae Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica/DeWitt Clinton) found an opportunity to put one past the goalie at the 37:22 mark by positioning himself in front of Huskie goalkeeper Steve Goletz. With a giant leap into the air, Clarke's head made contact and the ball was sent up and over Goletz and into the back of the net.

Greg Galemore

With a 1-0 lead entering the second half, the Bulls continued to play hard in search of their second goal of the match. However, the Huskies, who finished the regular season at 11-5-2 and garnered a second-place finish, made plenty of efforts to put one past the Bulls, as they won in the shot category 8-5 in the second half.

Already with an assist on the day, Jaanimagi capitalized on a goalkeeper fumble by scoring the insurance goal at the 87:22 mark late in the half. Junior Sola Abolaji (Denver, CO/Eagle Crest) applied pressure to the Huskie goalkeeper, causing him to mishandle the ball and allowing the ball to leak out in front of the box. Jaanimagi saw the open net and effectively hammered the nail in the Huskie coffin.

Andrae Clarke

Junior goalkeeper Daniel Bell (Brampton, Ontario/Notre Dame) made three saves en route to his ninth shutout of the year and his own UB record 14 wins on the season. Out of those 14 games, the Bulls have scored first in 12 of them.

The Bulls, now at 14-3-1, will face No. 1-seed Akron, who beat Western Michigan 5-0 in the second semifinal match, look to claim the Mid-American Conference Championship on Sunday at 2 p.m.