MEN'S SOCCER

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Steve Butcher

BUFFALO, NY - During the University at Buffalo's first year in the Mid-American Conference, Steve Butcher (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) left an immediate impression on the conference. He scored 14 goals, added eight assists and finished with 36 points to be named the MAC Player of the Year. In only three years at UB, he eclipsed 100 points to become the program's leading scorer. His soccer career, it turns out, was only beginning.

"After my time at UB, it seemed the next step was to play professionally, and I have been for six years now," Butcher said in a phone interview. "The coaching staff and the players in Buffalo definitely helped my progress towards that step."

Butcher has made stops with the NPSL's Cleveland Crunch and the A-League's Rochester Ragin' Rhinos as well as the Major Indoor Soccer League's St. Louis Steamers. However, it was his latest team that has taken him furthest from the Nickel City, as he recently helped the United States' Futsal team reach the final eight for the first time since 1992 at the FIFA Futsal World Championships held in Chinese Taipai.

Photo Courtesy of Gary Dineen

The team made it to the round of eight by finishing 1-1-1 and in second place in its pool play, losing to Italy, 6-3, on Nov. 21 before beating Paraguay, 3-1, on Nov. 23 and tying Japan, 1-1, on Nov. 25. However, the U.S. stumbled in the round of eight, finishing 0-3 in pool play to get eliminated.

"The competition was obviously the best in the world," Butcher said. "The facilites they had were pretty unreal. To see them packed with fans was just a really cool experience."

In the final game, an 8-5 loss to Brazil on Dec. 1, Butcher notched his lone goal in the tournament. Brazil opened the game with three goals in the first 11 minutes, but Butcher responded in the 12th minute with his goal on a cross from Jamar Beasley. The U.S. eventually cut the lead to 6-5 with 1:27 remaining in the 40-minute contest, but Brazil shut the door with two late goals, ending the trip for the U.S. team.

Butcher returned to America and joined his MISL team, the San Diego Sockers, where on Dec. 1, he added an assist in the Sockers' 6-3 win against the Philadelphia Kixx. He is currently second on the squad with seven goals and 12 points.

Futsal is a sport that is a derivative of soccer played with five-man teams on a basketball style court, with no walls and a low bouncing ball, unlike the traditional sport of U.S. indoor soccer played with a six-man squads and walls.