Dangerous-Lee good

After a busy summer representing England at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, sophomore forward Lee Catchpole has picked up where he left off last season with the UB men's soccer team.

As a freshman, he led the team in scoring with six goals and 14 total points. He is on pace to shatter that record after already tallying two goals and two assists in two games this year.

"It's always tough coming in as a freshman, as far as learning the plays," Catchpole said. "This year my role is to score more goals, link up the play, win balls in the air, but mainly to put the ball in the net."

Following a promising debut year where he was named Bulls Fall Classic Offensive Most Valuable Player and the team's top newcomer, Catchpole received a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas All-New York Region Third Team. He was also named to the Mid-American Conference All-Tournament team.

Plus, Catchpole made all of these accomplishments despite an early season ankle injury that forced him to miss 13 of the team's 19 games last season.

This summer Catchpole was chosen to represent his home country of England at the World University Games, becoming only the third Bulls' soccer player ever to participate in the competition. The high-scoring forward aided England in finishing 8th in the tournament field of 16 teams.

Catchpole was born in Norwich, England in 1986. His parents, Nigel and Kim, were extremely supportive of their son as a young soccer player. He took to the game naturally and was immediately playing with children ages nine and 10 when he was just seven years old.

"I have always been comfortable with the ball at my feet, it just feels normal, like really natural," Catchpole said.

As a high school student, Catchpole was active in many sports outside of soccer such as rugby, tennis and cricket. In 2002, he was named Sportsman of the Year and All-County in Suffolk, England. Catchpole said he has always been interested in athletics in one way or another, and hopes to coach after his playing days are over.

At the end of his senior year at Bungay High School, Buffalo head coach John Astudillo traveled to England to recruit the young playmaker.

"Coach came to me at a trial, we played two games, and then he pulled me aside and offered me a scholarship right then and there," said Catchpole.

A few months later Catchpole made his University at Buffalo soccer debut.

Although Catchpole, known to his teammates as "Catchy," has high individual goals, what is most important to him is a strong team finish.

"Personally, I want to get double figures in goals, chip in with some assists, and as a team really challenge for the MAC title," Catchpole said.

Although the MAC competition is stiff, Catchpole said he's confident in his team's ability to bring home a championship.

"The only team we really have to beat and look for is Akron," said Catchpole, who will be able to test that theory on Akron on Oct. 7 when the Zips come to visit the Bulls at the stadium.

Only time will tell how far Catchpole and the rest of the men's soccer team will go, but one thing looks certain: the best is yet to come.