After a tough stretch in the middle of this month, Men's Soccer is trending up again. They're now 4-4-3 on the season after today's 2-0 win over Cornell.
In 2014, the Big Red beat Buffalo 5-0 on the strength of five goals on five shots on target. This evening, the script flipped as UB made the most of their shots while Cornell never put one on target and only even managed one shot period in the second half.
After three consecutive shutouts and 160+ scoreless minutes on each end, the Bulls have found their scoring touch again recently, with six in their current 1-1-2 run. Today it was Braden Scales just 15 minutes in and Russell Cicerone at 79 minutes potting the markers for UB. Scott Doney assisted on both goals. All three players are heating up; Doney is now tied with Marcus Hanson for the team lead with five assists, Cicerone leads the team with six goals, and Scales, who has been impressive this year, now has a pair of goals and a pair of assists in a three game stretch.
Defensively, UB was rarely, if ever truly challenged by the Big Red, who showed some skilled passing at times but were overmatched physically. The Bulls dominated possession from start to finish and earned six corners on the day. Joseph Kuta was in net for the Bulls and earned the shutout, but he didn't need to make a single save. It's UB's second shutout of the year and first over a D-I opponent.
There's little else to say about such an airtight performance. Cornell is obviously not good, but this was a 'should-win,' and the Bulls went out and did that.
UB has one game next weekend before MAC play: a regional grudge match against St. Bonaventure. Buffalo easily defeated the Bonnies last year 4-0 behind two goals and two assists from Cicerone and with a win this year will hold the Big 4 Shield for the entire offseason. That's Saturday at 7:00 on the road.