Despite one of its best offensive performances of the season, the men's soccer team was unable to get past local rival Canisius on Wednesday. The night's match marked the final home game of the season, and the team honored its senior members with a Senior Night ceremony before the game.
Though the Bulls came out firing and out-shot Canisius 12-4 in the first half, it was Canisius who struck strike first. 13:21 into the first half, Simba Aberdeen took a pass from Alan McGreal and put it in the corner of the net.
Less than 10 minutes later, in the 22nd minute, Canisius' Pablo Lopez found the back of the net off a corner kick from Eddie Powell to make the score 2-0.
Down 2-0, the Bulls' shot parade would eventually pay off right before halftime as sophomore midfielder Alex Marrello buried a cross from sophomore midfielder Justin Fredsell and junior midfielder Eric Johnson into the top corner of the net.
The Bulls dominated the play in the first half, but still went into the locker room down 2-1.
Buffalo came out and dominated play in the second half as well, out-shooting Canisius 10-3. However, just like the first half it would be Canisius to score first. This time it was Alan McGreal taking the pass from Simba Aberdeen, and firing it in the top corner in the 62nd minute.
Right before McGreal's goal, sophomore forward Dan Bulley had a chance to tie the game with a penalty kick, yet Canisius goaltender Adam Catley preserved his team's lead with a remarkable save.
The outlook was bleak for the Buffalo at this point, but they had been in this position before.
Just like most of the other games in which the Bulls were down in the second half, it was Bulley who would get them back into the game. He put the ball about 20 yards out and carried it in himself, putting it past the Canisius goalkeeper in the 72nd minute.
"I got the ball under control, it was bouncing up with a lot of pressure and I managed to shake off the first man and saw a gap between two other people," Bulley said. "I thought I would be strong to get through that gap and take it past one more man and then slide it past the keeper."
By the end of the game the Bulls out-shot Canisius 22-7, but the bounces didn't go their way, as Canisius was able to hold them off.
"In the first half, we made a couple of dumb mistakes that cost us," said head coach John Astudillo. "Overall, I thought we played well. Offensively, we were controlling the ball and possessing it the way we wanted to. In the end of the game, we had good opportunities, but didn't finish. We were passing well and had a balanced attack and turned it on offensively."
Astudillo thought his team played well enough to beat Canisius, but luck was not on their side.
"I thought overall, we kept playing and playing," Astudillo said. "In the end, it was one of those things that was weird by hitting the goal post three times in the last minute. Sometimes you get beat and other times you are just unlucky, and that was the case this time. The luck was not going our way and there was nobody to blame."
With three straight losses heading into the Mid-American Conference playoffs, the Bulls' confidence is a little shaken, but they are hoping they can get it right in time for their first game.
"The confidence is a little bit low right now," Bulley said. "However, we are mentally strong and have a week to prepare and we will be ready to go next weekend."
The Bulls' next game will either be against Western Michigan or Hartwick in the MAC Tournament semifinals on Friday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
