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UB Takes Nationally Third-Ranked Akron Into Double Overtime, 0-0

Daniel Bell

The highly-anticipated matchup between these two foes began with a see-saw opening minutes, each team trying to feel out the other in hopes to break through formations and score the early goal. The Zips had the first chance to break the game open with a free kick outside of the box. MAC Player of the Year Ross McKenzie took the shot from the corner of the box, which then soared up and struck the crossbar with a loud, echoing clang. Minutes later, McKenzie, with another wide open shot, blasted a rocket up towards the upper right corner of the net at 34:40, but junior Daniel Bell (Brampton, Ontario/Notre Dame) made possibly the best save of his career with a spectacular flying one-handed punch save that sailed up and out of bounds. The early scare stirred up the Bulls, causing them to battle back and show no fear of the top-seeded Zips.

Andrae Clarke

The Bulls came out in the second half showing a little more aggressiveness, as the offense controlled the ball often on the Akron side of the pitch, looking for that one goal to determine a likely winner. Two quick yellow cards by Zip midfielder Yohanne Mauger gave the Bulls two great looks at the goal. Both free kicks gave the Bulls opportunities, but the Akron defense closed in quickly. Both teams wound down the final minutes of regulation sending the ball back and forth, making sure not to exert too much energy that would be needed for the first overtime game of the tournament.

Greg Galemore

Both overtime periods saw the teams running flawless defenses, halting any attempts to squeeze in an easy goal. After Akron had sent an extra striker up the field, only three backs remained in the Akron backfield, junior Andrae Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica/DeWitt Clinton) charged on up the pitch with a 35-yard breakaway up to the outside of the box, where he was tripped up. This led to another chance for UB, however, after the free kick, offsides was called, the only offsides of the game. This was the last chance for the Bulls to put one in the net as both teams prepared for the shootout.

With the two goalkeepers called upon to save their respective season, both teams strategically set the order of who would shoot in what order. Akron and Buffalo would exchange scores for six rounds until Akron goalkeeper and MAC Newcomer of the Year Evan Bush managed to come away with his best save of the season, stopping UB's top scoring leader, Andrae Clarke, and thus claiming the MAC Championship title.

Matt Stuczynski

Because it was a MAC tournament game, the game goes down as a tie for both sides. UB, at 14-3-2, finishes as runner-up in the tournament after outscoring its competition 6-0 in three games. Seniors Greg Galemore (Rochester, NY/West Morris), Matt Stuczynski (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep), and Daniel Bell were named to the MAC All-Tournament team. The Bulls now sit and wait for the next chapter of its season to be written as the NCAA Selection Show airs Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. on ESPNEWS.

Shootout Track
Akron - Justin Sadler
UB - Lee Catchpole
Akron - Yohanne Mauger
UB - Matt Stuczynski
Akron - Ossie Michaelson
UB - Erik Jaanimagi
Akron - Matthew Tutich
UB - Shyle Braithwaite
Akron - Ross McKenzie
UB - Greg Galemore
Akron - Corey Sipos
UB - Dave Chojnowski
Akron - Gere Nyheim
UB - Andrae Clarke

FINAL

0-0 (7-6)