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Thursday, May 02, 2024
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#UBTop10

The top-10 moments in UB Athletics over the past few weeks

Senior defender Sophie Therien takes a corner kick. The team will travel to
Mount Pleasant, MIchigan to take on Central Michigan this Friday. Chad Cooper, The Spectrum 
Senior defender Sophie Therien takes a corner kick. The team will travel to Mount Pleasant, MIchigan to take on Central Michigan this Friday. Chad Cooper, The Spectrum 

10. Volleyball starts Mid-American Conference play 2-0

The Bulls opened up MAC play with consecutive sweeps over Bowling Green and Miami Ohio, the best start to conference play in program history. Junior outside hitter Tahleia Bishop led the team offensively with consecutive 18 kill performances during the start. She also led the team in digs with 25 during the span.

Since the impressive start, Buffalo is just 1-3 in their last four games, coming off a 3-1 loss to Ball State.

9. Felisha Legette-Jack receives contract extension

Women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack received a contract extension it was announced by UB Athletics on Oct. 2. The new contract expires after the 2018-19 season.

Legette-Jack led the Bulls to a 17-13 overall record, last season, going 10-8 in the MAC. Buffalo also earned the No. 4 seed in the MAC tournament, the teams highest-ranking in program history. The Bulls have won the most MAC games (18) in a two-year stretch in program history in Legette-Jack’s first two seasons.

8. Megan Lipski named MAC East Offensive Player Of The Week

Junior outside hitter Megan Lipski was named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

Lipski had 13 kills in both of the Bulls’ matches last weekend, giving her 173 on the season – good for second on the team.

Lipski is also second on the team in digs with 190. She set a career high with 19 against Ball State last Saturday.

7. Katie Roberts earns consecutive MAC Offensive Player of the Week awards

Senior forward Katie Roberts scored five goals and 11 points in four game-stretch, earning her MAC Offensive Player of the Week in consecutive weeks.

Three of her goals were game-winners, as the Bulls went 4-0 and outscored opponents 8-1 during the span.

Roberts leads the team with seven goals and 16 points. She ranks second in the MAC in both categories.

6. Branden Oliver’s NFL breakthrough

Branden Oliver, UB’s all-time leading rusher, was the topic of discussion throughout the NFL two Sundays ago.

Oliver ran for 114 yards and a touchdown against the New York Jets – the team that had the No. 1 ranked run defense coming into the game. He also caught four passes for 68 yards and another score in the Chargers’ 31-0 win.

5. Oliver and Mack face each other in NFL

Khalil Mack and Branden Oliver stepped onto the field together for the first time since Buffalo’s 49-24 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl loss last season. This time, however, the two former roommates were on opposite sides of the field as the Oakland Raiders hosted the San Diego Chargers.

Mack was drafted No. 5 overall by the Raiders in May’s NFL draft, while Oliver signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent. Oliver has risen up the depth chart to become San Diego’s No. 1 back after injuries and his performance against the Jets.

Oliver bested Mack, as the Chargers defeated the Raiders 31-28. Oliver scored the game-winning 1-yard touchdown run, and finished with 101 rushing yards on the day. Mack finished with two tackles, both on his former teammate.

4. Russell Cicerone scores with 12 seconds left earning UB draw

Sophomore midfielder Russell Cicerone, the men’s soccer team’s leading scorer, scored on a penalty kick with 12 seconds remaining against Western Michigan last week to send the Bulls into overtime. The game ended with a 2-2 draw.

The tying goal came after sophomore defender Austin Place cut the Broncos lead to one with just 6:37 remaining.

Cicerone was awarded a penalty kick after a Western Michigan player committed a handball in the Bronco box. He fired a low shot to the left corner that was stopped by Western Michigan goalkeeper Chase Rau. Cicerone followed his own rebound and tapped the ball into the bottom right corner, scoring his sixth goal of the year.

3. Licata moves into second all-time in passing touchdowns

Junior quarterback Joe Licata rewrote the Buffalo football program record book as he exceeded Marty Barrett for second all-time in touchdown passes in a 35-37 win over Miami Ohio on Sept. 27. Licata needs only three more touchdown passes to surpass Drew Willy’s school record of 52.

Licata also exceeded 5,000 career passing yards against the RedHawks.

2. Taylor becomes first Bull to run for over 200 yards in two consecutive games

Junior running back Anthone Taylor’s predecessor, Oliver, might be making news in the NFL, but Taylor is having an equally impressive season in the college ranks.

After only rushing for 47 yards against Baylor, Taylor has run for more than 115 yards in each of his last four games, including 222 against Miami Ohio and 219 against Bowling Green, making him the lone running back in Bulls’ history to have two consecutive 200-yard performances.

Taylor currently ranks third in the country with 926 rushing yards and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (9).

1. Women's soccer earns highest ranking in program history

The women’s soccer team achieved the program’s highest ranking amongst Division 1 schools by the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) at No. 56. The listing came after two consecutive victories against Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan,

The Bulls have since dropped nine spots after drawing twice this past weekend. Buffalo is 8-2-3 this season and undefeated in the MAC with a 4-0-2.

Tweet us your nominations @ubspecsports with the #ubtop10.

email: sports@ubspectrum.com

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