The men's soccer team played the first of three-straight road games on Saturday and looked for their first win in over a week.
They are still searching for a victory.
Buffalo (4-6-1, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) lost 2-0 to the Bowling Green Falcons (4-4-2, 1-2 MAC) to extend their winless streak to three games.
The loss also marked the fifth time that the Bulls have been shut out this season.
"I think that we played well at the end," said head coach John Astudillo. "But the lack of scoring is evident. We're creating the shots and creating the opportunities… but we're not putting them in, and that is a big problem."
Bowling Green sophomore Zach Lemke scored on a header less than five minutes into the game. Despite Buffalo outshooting the Falcons 12-7, that goal proved to be the game winner.
"[The early goal] did quite a bit," Astudillo said. "But if the character of your team is strong enough you should be able to come back from an early goal."
The Bulls nearly tied the game in the 14th minute. Junior forward Nate Woods redirected a corner kick on goal, but junior goalkeeper Miguel Rosales made the save.
This was one of six saves on the day for Rosales, who earned his fourth shutout of the year after consistently being tested by the Bulls offensive attack.
With 35 minutes left in the game, the Falcons goalkeeper made a diving stop to turn back a free kick by junior forward Mike Unwin.
Converting those shots into goals has plagued the Bulls offense all season.
"I just think we were playing very inconsistently," Astudillo said. "[But] I think that offensively we are trying. In the second half we came close, but just coming close is not exactly what you want to do."
After back-and-forth play the rest of the first half, the Bulls hurt themselves by scoring an own goal early in the second. On a free kick for Bowling Green, the ball went off the head of a Bulls defender and into the net.
Scoring opportunities for Buffalo were more sporadic toward the end of the second half. In the final 10 minutes, the Bulls only managed a single shot attempt, which came off the foot of senior midfielder Sam Craven and sailed over the net.
Despite the loss, the Bulls defense was the one bright spot for the team, holding the Falcons to only one goal of their own. Junior goalkeeper Nick Fetterman made two saves in the match.
"They kept fighting to the very end," Astudillo said. "But the defense is still giving up goals and the offense is not converting the scoring opportunities."
The Bulls will look to end their recent three game skid as they prepare to play Cleveland State (6-8, 3-2 Horizon League).
"We will engage our backs in the attack a lot more," Astudillo said. "We can always create more scoring opportunities in a game [by doing that.]"
The game is set to take place on Monday at 4 p.m. at Krezler Soccer Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of UB Athletics
