Football

A national search has begun for a replacement for head football coach Craig Cirbus, with plans for a new coach to be in place by early December to ensure a smooth transition and aid in recruiting for next year.

Athletic Director Bob Arkeilpane announced on Monday that Cirbus will not have his contract renewed after this season. Cirbus and his staff will finish out the season.

Cirbus, who has posted an 18-45 record in his sixth season at his alma mater, has guided the Bulls from Division I-AA to Division I-A competition in the Mid-American Conference. After an 8-3 season in 1996, the Bulls have posted a record of 7-34 over the past four seasons.

Arkeilpane said the new coach will be required to interview all of Cirbus' assistant coaches for possible employment. However, he will not be required to hire any of them.

Northern Illinois 73, UB 10

If ever the first play of a game signaled the outcome, it came Saturday afternoon in Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill.

Northern Illinois flanker Justin McCareins broke three tackles and returned the kick-off 68 yards, signaling the beginning of a tremendous individual performance and domination of UB by the Huskies, 73-10.

McCareins finished the game with 10 receptions for 151 yards and 275 all-purpose yards.

UB's bright spot was junior fullback Albert Grundy, who had a career-high 173 yards on 18 carries to pace the UB offense.

Athletes of the Week

Todd Ludden was cross-country team's top male finisher in the Mid-American Conference Championships, placing 24th in the 95-runner field. Ludden completed the 8-kilometer course in 25:26 and the Bulls finished 10th of 12 teams. Ludden's time was his best of the season, bettering his output at the Paul Short Invitational by 14 seconds. Lindsay Matikosh of the volleyball team had team-highs in kills and digs in losses to Western Michigan and Kent State. Matikosh had seven kills and seven digs at Western Michigan and followed that with a 14-kill, 15-dig, four-block night at Kent State. She leads the Bulls in digs with 222 (2.64 per game) and is second in kills with 191 (2.27 per game).

Soccer

Men's

Bowling Green 3, UB 0
Wright State 3, UB 0

The men's soccer team lost, 3-0, to conference foe Bowling Green.

The first half was a defensive battle, as neither team could find the net. UB managed just two shots in the half and Bowling Green registered the only shot on goal. The second half started out in the same fashion before the Falcons found the net in the 62nd minute. Bowling Green added to the lead with a goal in the 83rd minute, and scored the final goal with less than a minute to play for the 3-0 win.

The Bulls also lost a 3-0 game at Wright State on Sunday afternoon. The game concluded the Bulls' regular season schedule as UB now will host the MAC tournament, beginning tomorrow.

Wright State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, netting its first goal at the 1:25 mark. WSU added a goal later in the half to take a 2-0 halftime lead. Wright State finished off the scoring in the 79th minute to ensure the win.

Women's

UB 2, St. Bonaventure 0

In the last regular-season game before the MAC tournament, UB defeated St. Bonaventure, 2-0.

Neither team could find the net in the first half, although the Bulls outshot the Bonnies 8-3. UB did not capitalize on its chances until late in the second half, when Paula Listrani scored off an assist from Nicole Olszewski at 73:06 for a 1-0 UB lead. The Bulls added to that lead with less than four minutes to play when Kelly Damon scored her first career collegiate goal at the 87:02 mark off an assist from Theresa Potenza for the 2-0 UB win.

The Bulls improved their record to 13-5-1 overall, and already have clinched the MAC regular-season title with an 8-2-1 mark.

Volleyball

Western Michigan 3, UB 0
Kent State 3, UB 1

Junior Larissa LaCour posted 12 assists in the volleyball team's 15-1, 15-8, 15-6 loss to Western Michigan, moving her into seventh place all-time in career assists with 1,057.

The Bulls finished their weekend with a four-game loss at Kent State, 15-9, 15-11, 15-17, 15-13.

Cross Country

Men place 10th, women 11th in MAC championships

The men's and women's cross-country squads had disappointing showings at the MAC Championships held in Kalamazoo, Mich. The men placed 10th in a field of 12, while the women were 11th of 13.

Todd Ludden was the Bulls' top male finisher, placing 24th among 100 runners completing the 8-kilometer course in a season-best 25:26. Eastern Michigan won the team championship.

Melissa Burrows was UB's top female finisher, taking 39th among the 95 entrant, in 18:31 for the five kilometers. Central Michigan won the team title.

Crew

The women's crew squad concluded its fall schedule at the Head of the Elk Regatta in Elkhart, Ind., on the upper St. Joseph River. The course distance was 2.5 miles. UB placed eighth of 16 entrants in the women's novice 8 race in 15:41.93 after starting from the 12th position. Purdue won the race in 14:04.27. The Bulls fielded three squads in the open 8 race. UB's A squad placed 11th of 27 overall entrants in 14:19.43. The B team was 12th in 14:23.89 and the C team placed 23rd in 15:26.07. Notre Dame's A squad won the race in 13:27.7.