MEN'S SOCCER

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Late Stevens Goal Leads Buffalo To MAC Championship Game

Dan Stevens

With the season hanging in the balance for both teams, Buffalo (10-6-2) and Hartwick (5-6-7) both employed relatively low-risk tactics in the game's opening 45 minutes and thus neither team was able to find a first half goal. The best chance of the half came when Stevens fired a low shot toward Hartwick goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo in the 34th minute. Vuolo made the save but the rebound fell to Mateo Escobar (Liverpool, NY/Wilbraham & Monson). Escobar's shot was blocked out of bounds. At the half, UB had an 8-3 advantage in shots.

Robert Shuttleworth

The second half saw both teams employ similar tactics, as neither team was able to create any significant scoring opportunities in the opening moments of the second half. But as the half wore on, and temperatures dipped into the low 30s, both teams became more aggressive in the attack, knowing that one goal would likely decide the contest. Hartwick's John Paul Boyle nearly scored with 14 minutes to remaining, but his drive cannoned off the crossbar. Hartwick created another excellent chance with 4:30 to play when Jonathan Garcia-Torres forced Buffalo goalkeeper Robert Shuttleworth (Tonawanda, NY/Nichols) into making a diving stop.

After weathering the Hartwick storm, Buffalo created an opportunity of their own. With just under three minutes to play, the Bulls earned their sixth corner kick of the half. Martin John (Ottawa, Ontario/Lisgar Collegiate) swung the corner into the box where it deflected out to Stevens. Stevens fired a right-footed shot toward goal from 25 yards out. The shot deflected off a Hartwick defender and into the back of the net to give UB a lead. The goal, the third of the season for Stevens, would prove to be the game-winner as the Bulls were able to salt away the final two minutes of the contest and avenge a regular season loss to the Hawks.

Shuttleworth, playing in his first game since October 12 due to injury, made four saves between the posts for in the Bulls in recording his fourth shutout of the season.

Buffalo will now meet MAC regular season champion Akron, who defeated Northern Illinois in the second semifinal 2-1 in double-overtime, on Sunday, November 18 at 2 p.m. at Akron. The winner of that contest will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.