Men's soccer weekly release
Bulls Split Home Matches
The University at Buffalo men's soccer team split a pair of matches to open the final homestand of the season. UB suffered its first loss on home turn in a 1-0 non-conference loss to Detroit on Tuesday played in high winds and a driving rain. The Bulls rebounded on Halloween Sunday with a 1-0 win over Mid-American Conference rival, Florida Atlantic.
Unwin Sits, Then Stars
Junior Mike Unwin scored the game-winning goal against Florida Atlantic on Sunday as the Bulls clinched a spot in the Mid-American Conference playoffs. Unwin missed the Detroit match on Tuesday due to an accumulation of yellow cards but returned to the pitch on Sunday with a strong match. Unwin tallied his team-best fifth goal of the season with 12 minutes left in the first half as he redirected Casey Derkacz's throw in past FAU goalkeeper James McCormick. Unwin had 11 of UB's 18 shots in the contest and leads the Bulls in scoring with 13 points (five goals, three assists).
Clinching a Playoff Spot
After missing the tournament in 2009, the Bulls clinched a 2010 MAC playoff spot on Sunday with the 1-0 win over Florida Atlantic. Heading into the match, both squads were 2-2-0 in league play with Sunday's decision guaranteeing a postseason spot for the winner. The Bulls moved into a second-place tie with Western Michigan, who clinched a spot on Saturday following their 2-1 victory over Hartwick. Both the Bulls and Broncos are 3-2 in league play as they head into a key battle on Friday at UB Stadium with second place on the line.
Astudillo's Assessment
Following Sunday's victory over Florida Atlantic, head coach John Astudillo commented on his team. "The Bulls came up with a grade A must match vs FAU. The offense worked hard and mids combined very well. Our defense was solid commandeered by Casey Derkacz." Previewing Friday's pivotal match against Western Michigan, Astudillo said, "We have to feel confident that UB can bring again another great effort. We are happy to see the veterans scoring, linking and defending excellently."