Bulls Cruise Past Owls, 6-0, In MAC Tournament Opener

Dan Bulley

AKRON, OH – Junior forward Dan Bulley scored a natural hat trick and the University at Buffalo men's soccer team scored its 10th shutout of the season as the third-seeded Bulls blanked sixth-seeded Florida Atlantic, 6-0, in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament played at Akron's Lee Jackson Field.

Bulley, named to the All-MAC Second Team earlier in the day, got the scoring started early in the match as his shot from 25 yards out sailed past FAU goalkeeper Phillip Lamarre for the 1-0 lead just 4:07 into the match. Bulley added a second goal in the first half after he rebounded his own penalty kick and found the right corner of the net to give the Bulls a 2-0 advantage less than 12 minutes into the contest.

Lucas Bassan

The Bulls, ranked 10th in the current Great Lakes Regional poll, put on the afterburners in the second half collecting four goals within a 24-minute span. Bulley netted his third of the match at the 58:25 mark with a 35-yard shot. The three goals moved Bulley into the 2008 team lead with six goals and 13 points.

Steffan Thoresen, another All-MAC Second Team selection, scored UB's fourth goal at the 69:27 mark when he headed a throw in by Justin Fredsell past Lamarre, ending the goalkeeper's afternoon. Lamarre was replaced in net by Matt Cosinuke a short time later.

The change in goalkeeper by FAU (5-13-1) did not affect the Bulls as the UB bench got into the scoring column with the final two goals of the contest. At 78:03, sophomore Rich Wilson scored on an assist from freshman Lucas Bassan for a 5-0 lead. Bassan finished the scoring on an unassisted breakaway in the 83rd minute.

The offensive outburst was UB's highest tally in more than three years. The six goals were the most in a match since UB defeated Centenary, 7-0, in the first round of the Georgia Southern Classic on September 17, 2005.

Bobby Shuttleworth

The Bulls (12-3-4) shut out their 10th opponent of the season, tying the school record set by the 2005 squad which went 14-3-2 and advanced to the MAC championship match. Starting goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, another All-MAC Second Team honoree, stopped three shots in 78 minutes before giving way to Nick Fetterman, who collected his first collegiate save. Shuttleworth and Fetterman have now combined on two shutouts this season.

With the win, the Bulls advance to Friday's 5:00 pm semifinal match where they will face second-seeded Northern Illinois, a 2-0 winner over seventh-seeded Bowling Green earlier in the day. The Bulls and Huskies tied, 1-1, on October 10 in their regular season meeting as Bulley scored on a penalty kick in the 80th mintue to force the tie. Akron, the regular season champion will face the winner of Hartwick vs. Western Michigan in the other semifinal. The championship match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm.