University at Buffalo: Reporter

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BIG PLAYS HELP UB DEFEAT BIG RED AT HOMECOMING
The Bulls found a new way to win during their '96 renaissance: a brassy backup quarterback, big plays on offense and their usual bend-but-don't-break defense.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Erik Rusin came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes in place of injured starter Mark Taylor to engineer the Bulls to a 41-24 win over Cornell in front of over 9,000 Homecoming fans-the largest attendance of the season.

The UB offense averaged over 7.0 yards per play. UB's first score was a 70-yard jaunt by tailback Anthony Swan, who had 142 yards in the game. After Taylor left with a knee injury, Rusin threw a 19-yard TD strike to Jamie Gasparre, a 68-yard bomb to Kali Watkins and a 35-yard strike to Watkins, who had a career-high 152 yards on five catches.

Gerald Carlson put the game away with 1:56 left with a 47-yard field goal after Cornell had rallied to within 31-24 on a safety. Carlson connected on two field goals and had a tremendous day punting the football. For his efforts against Cornell, he was recognized as the NCAA Division I-AA Independent Special Teams Player of the Week.

The Bulls closed the scoring with their fifth defensive touchdown of the season when Bill Tipton picked off his fourth interception of the year and returned it 32 yards for a score. Defensively, Craig Guest led the way with 15 tackles while Eric Lee had a career-high 11 stops. Mike Chichester added nine tackles and three pass breakups; Anthony Scott had eight tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. Saturday, UB will host Youngstown State at 1:30 p.m.


STROTHMANN, KEENAN BREAK RECORDS AT NOTRE DAME INVITE
Records fell Friday afternoon in South Bend, Ind., at the Notre Dame Invitational. The Royals finished 10th in a field of 17 teams while the Bulls raced in the Gold Division of the men's meet, placing 12th of 20 teams.

Stacey Strothmann broke the UB record for five kilometers finishing in 17:39 to cut five seconds off Judith Novak's record set in 1994. Strothmann, who finished 21st in a field of 121 runners, earlier in the week earned the Mid-Con Conference's Athlete of the Month award.

For the Bulls, Chris Keenan broke the men's school record completing the eight kilometers in 25:16, nine seconds faster than Charlie Moynihan's mark in 1995. Keenan crossed the finish line 15th of 140 runners in the Gold race.

Saturday, UB's B squads competed at the Harry F. Anderson Memorial Invitational at Roberts Wesleyan College. The Bulls placed third in the four-team race. UB's women did not field a complete team racing only four runners.

Sophomore Wesley Zech led the Bulls in Rochester finishing the 8K in 27:38 and placing 16th. John Joyce was 18th in 27:39. Theresa Hummenyj was the Royals' top finisher at 19:44 for 5K in third place. Andrea Bishop at 20:05 and Barbara Rabinovici at 20:44 were fourth and sixth respectively. Both teams have the weekend off and will be back in action Oct. 19.


MEN'S TENNIS
The Bulls tennis team was represented well by three players at last week's ECAC Championships held at Vassar College. UB tied for third out of 16 teams. The doubles team of Andrew Garber and Wibisono Murdono fell in the finals while number three singles player Orrin Pridgen advanced to the finals but had to default the championship match due to an injury.

UB returns to dual meet match play on Saturday when they host Eastern Michigan at noon at the University Tennis Center.


WOMEN'S SOCCER
Coach Jean-A. Tassy's Royals dropped a 2-0 decision to a powerful Colgate squad Friday night at RAC Field. Goalkeeping played a major role as UB's Joanne Chillingsworth stopped 15 shots while Colgate's Kelly Tyrell had eight saves. UB continues the homestand with matches Friday vs. Duquesne, Sunday vs. Radford and Oct. 16 against Canisius.


MEN'S SOCCER
UB opened the Mid-Continent Conference portion of their schedule at home last weekend dropping a pair of matches and falling to 0-11-1 for the season. Friday, UB lost a heartbreaking 1-0 to East Division rival Central Connecticut State. Ediru Okpewho's two second-half penalty kick goals were the only points the Bulls could muster as UB fell to Howard 7-2 in a Mid-Con Conference men's soccer match Sunday at RAC Field. The Bulls are in action again next Sunday when they host Oneonta at 1 p.m.


VOLLEYBALL
UB defeated Canisius 15-3, 15-1, 15-12 Wednesday night. On Friday night, UB fell to Duquesne at Alumni Arena in five games, 15-13, 10-15, 12-15, 15-6, 15-11 snapping the Royals' two-match winning streak.

Coach Bob Maxwell's club then hit the road for Ithaca where they faced Hofstra on Saturday, falling to the Flying Dutchwomen in four games.

On Sunday, UB took the first two games against Cornell but couldn't get the victory falling to the Big Red in five games.

Conference honors came Deschambault's way on Monday morning as the freshman was recognized as the Mid-Continent's Defensive Player of the Week.

This weekend, the Royals travel to Troy State for the Mid-Con's East Division clusters. UB will meet the host Trojans on Saturday sandwiched between dates with Youngstown State and Central Connecticut State.

-Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office


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