After over an hour and a half of scoreless soccer with the Big Red of Cornell senior forward Andrae Clarke, Mid-American Conference player of the week, made sure the Bulls came home with a 1-0 win.
The lone goal of the game came in the 103rd minute as Clarke blasted his shot from 10-yards out to the upper left corner, just past the outstretched hand of Big Red goalkeeper Luca Cerretani.
Coming off an impressive 5-1 victory against Valparaiso, the Bulls looked to carry its momentum into a game against the fiery Ivy-League opponent. An overall team effort was used by the Bulls as they let loose 14 shots and held Cornell to six.
"It was just a good, hard fought, well paced game," said Bulls head coach John Astudillo. "Every time we play the Ivies it tends to be higher paced and more physical."
With a 3-1 shot lead over Cornell in the first half, the Bulls (3-2-1) did not put up much of an offensive attack against a pesky Cornell (1-3-1) defense. The Bulls chalked up nine fouls against the Big Red in attempt to slow them down.
Buffalo won the shot battle in the second half, 8-3, as they were hungry for a goal. However, Cerretani came up large for the Big Red making six saves. Six of the Bulls' starters recorded shots and three of those starters recorded shots on goal. Senior midfielder Erik Jaanimagi, freshmen midfielder Ville Wahlsten, and senior forward Andrae Clarke combined for five shots on goal. Senior midfielder Brian Knapp led the Bulls with five shot attempts.
Brian Kuritzky and Kevin Vieira combined for six shots and four shots on goal to lead Cornell offensively. The Big Red was awarded six corner kicks throughout the match, while Buffalo only had one the entire contest.
Cornell's strategy was quality over quantity, as the team only recorded four shots on goal. The Big Red's best opportunity came at the end of the first half, when Buffalo senior goalkeeper Daniel Bell made a save on a shot by Kuritzky from 25-yards away just before the halftime horn. Bell made two crucial saves in the first overtime to keep the Bulls alive and earn the shutout. The Bulls' defense allowed only two shots in the final 13 minutes of the game.
"I was very pleased how the back four played today," Astudillo said. "Herb Deleon and Ville Wahlsten really played a strong game."
Buffalo's ability to string together passes and to maintain control over the ball gave Cornell's defense problems late in the game. Cornell gave up three shots in the overtime periods with the final one being the blast from Clarke.
"I think we supported each other," Clarke said. "Not only physically but mentally, talking to each other, getting each other up."
After netting three goals against Valparaiso, Clarke had a goal on his mind the whole match. Clarke nearly ended the game with 1:30 left in regulation, but was smothered by Cornell goalie Luca Cerretani.
"Andrae has been working very very hard,"Astudillo said. "He wants to score, he wants the ball. That hunger you can't teach."
After playing three games on the road, the Bulls will next look to continue its winning play in its next game at home against local rival St. Bonaventure. The match-up takes place at UB Stadium Friday night, and is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
"This season means so much. We're trying to prove that last year was not a fluke," Clarke said. "We have the work ethic and talent that we can do it as a team."
The Friday night game will also be broadcast on the radio waves. Buffalo's student-run Internet radio station, WRUB, will be carrying the contest versus St. Bonaventure.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
