One-goal games can be exhilarating or frustrating, depending on which side one ends up on. The Buffalo soccer teams found themselves on opposing ends on Friday. The men pulled out a victory at home in overtime while the women were unable to find success on the road.
The men's soccer team made sure to get out of overtime quickly on Friday night, with a picture-perfect shot to win the game in the first minute of overtime. Sophomore midfielder Alex Marrello placed his shot just inside the left post to give the Bulls a 3-2 win in their first Mid-American Conference match of the season.
The overtime win marked the fifth overtime game for the Bulls this season. With the win on Friday at UB Stadium, the Bulls improved their overtime record to 4-0-1.
The Falcons got the scoring going early. In the 12th minute, Thomas McLean put Bowling Green on the board with a free kick shot from just inside the 35-yard line.
Buffalo had a few scoring opportunities throughout the half, but could not score as Bowling Green went up by two in the 37th minute when a shot by Cameron Hepples found the net.
The Bulls managed to get one back with two minutes left in the first half. Sophomore midfielder Justin Fredsell made a move to allow him to chip it to junior midfielder Martin John. John didn't hesitate to head it in past Falcons goalkeeper Paul Shoemaker.
The Bulls had a strong second half, out-shooting the Falcons 6-1. The hard work paid off in the 63rd minute as sophomore midfielder Dan Bulley placed a bending ball in the top shelf of the net to tie the game.
The Bowling Green Falcons (3-5-1, 0-1 MAC) won the rights to the kickoff at the start of overtime, but their possession didn't last long. A long pass down the right side hit Bulls' forward Dominic Oppong and put the home team (6-3-1, 1-0) on the attack. He gave a quick overlap pass to Eric Johnson inside the six-yard box for a wide open shot. Johnson faked the shot and hit Marrello in front of the net for a one-timer into the low left corner of the net for the victory, just 26 seconds into the extra period. The goal marked Marrellos' third of the season and his second in overtime.
Robert Shuttleworth got the start in goal for Buffalo and made three saves on the night for his sixth victory of the season.
Following a 1-0 victory over Duquesne on Sunday, the men square off again next Saturday at St. Louis, where kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Buffalo women's team dropped a close one in Akron, Ohio as they faced off against the Zips on Friday. Akron (6-1-2, 1-0 MAC) scored late in the first half as Jordon Baranowski beat keeper Amy Coron from outside 15 yards in the 35th minute. That was all the Zips needed as they held off the Bulls (3-6-1, 0-1 MAC) for a 1-0 victory.
Buffalo sophomore midfielder Caitlin Higgins and junior forward Brooke McCalla managed the only shots on goal for their squad, mustering up just one a piece. Coron would finish with four saves in the game. Krystin Wilson posted the shutout for Akron.
Following their match on Sunday at Ohio, the women's six game road swing continues with a date with Western Michigan on Friday at 4 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
