October 9, 2011

Bulls Blank Bowling Green, 5-0

BUFFALO, NY – A five-goal onslaught in the second half gave the University at Buffalo men's soccer team an easy 5-0 win over visiting Bowling Green Sunday afternoon in Mid-American Conference play at UB Stadium. With the win the Bulls (7-5-1, 2-0 MAC) remain undefeated in league play.

After a scoreless first half, the Bulls jumped on the Falcons (7-4-1, 1-1 MAC) quickly in the second half. Maksym Kowal scored the eventual game-winner in the 55th minute as he took a pass from Patrick Ryan on a breakaway in front of the net and fired past BGSU goalkeeper Michael Weest from 15 yards away.

The Bulls then scored their final four goals in a 13-minute outburst propelled by a pair from Joey Merlo. Merlo scored the first of his two markers in the 72nd minute on an assist by Kowal for a 2-0 advantage. Nate Woods then scored in the 80th minute following a UB corner kick to up the margin to 3-0 and Vinny DiVirgilio scored thirty seconds later to increase the cushion to 4-0. Merlo then netted his second of the match in the 85th minute for the final tally. Merlo tied Andy Tiedt for the team goals lead this season as both have scored four times. Tiedt assisted on UB's final two goals of the match to earn two points and remain UB's scoring leader at 11 points.

UB goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi stopped four shots for the Bulls to notch his seventh win and fourth shutout of the season.

The five goals scored by the Bulls were the most since a 6-0 shutout of Florida Atlantic on November 13, 2008 in the first round of the MAC Tournament.

Commenting on the five-goal second half outburst, interim head coach David Hesch said, "Our goal was to our midfielders to turn and go to the goal. This win is huge."

The Bulls continue MAC play next Saturday at Western Michigan at 1:00 pm.