Olympic Sports Update

What’s going on in all those Olympic sports at UB? And who is Marcy Barberic (pictured above) and why is everyone talking about her? Let’s find out.

Women’s soccer finished the season with a 6–1–1 record and are ranked in the Top 20 nationally, but in a somewhat controversial ruling due to how games missed because of COVID are counted, they did not advance to the MAC Tournament. They await the NCAA Women’s Soccer Selection Committee decision (Monday, April 19, 2021) to see if they get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. There are 17 at-large bids in the 48 team tournament.

Barberic, a senior forward for UB, was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, tallying 9 goals and 19 points, and her points per game (2.38) was 7th in the nation. Her teammate, junior goalie Hanna Callaghan, who recorded 4 shutouts, was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Junior Emily Kelly also made first-team All-MAC, while senior Gianna Yurchak and sophomore Leah Wengender were named to the second-team All-MAC.

Women’s swimming, after the first day of the MAC Championships, are in first place. picking up 2 gold medals and 4 silvers. Junior Toni Naccarella had an individual gold and also gold as part of the 200 freestyle relay. The team’s 239 points lead second place Miami by 91 points. The Bulls finished the regular season with a 5–0 record.

Softball currently has a 9–20 record. Grad student Ally Marcano has pitched four of those wins and has the only shutout recorded. Sophomore first baseman Alexis Lucyshyn leads the team with 7 home runs and 21 RBI.

Wrestling finished the season with a 4–3 record. Sophomore Michael Petite, wrestling at 157 lbs, qualified for the NCAA Tournament by winning his weight group at the MAC Championships. Junior Sam Schuyler, wresting at 285 lbs, made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection. Both Petite and Schuyler went 1–2 in the NCAAs.

The highlight of the Indoor Track season was when senior Brandon Burke finished in 7th place in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Track Championships, and was awarded All-American honors.

Men’s tennis is currently 3–7 overall and 1–6 in the MAC. Junior Simon Wibler leads the team with 7 victories. Women’s tennis is 7–5 overall and 3–5 in the MAC. Junior Hsin Yuan-Shih has the best record on the team at 7–2.

At the MAC Cross Country Championships, the UB Men finished 3rd while the UB Women finished 12th. Junior Scott Loforte was the top UB Men’s finisher in 11th place, and junior Riley Jones was the top UB Women’s finisher in 48th place.

Volleyball has been covered extensively here at Bull Run, so no volleyball coverage here.