Football

Syracuse 63, UB 7

UB ran into an Orange buzzsaw Saturday night, dropping a 63-7 contest in front of 40,634 fans in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on a muggy evening that saw the Bulls wilt from the pressure of a talented Orange team and their own miscues.

The Bulls turned the ball over five times and had two kicks blocked-one returned for a touchdown-as Syracuse came at UB in waves. Syracuse rushed for 304 yards on the ground and took advantage of every Bulls' mistake, turning UB's five turnovers and two blocked kicks into 35 points.

Athletes of the week

Lindsay Matikosh of the volleyball team was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player at the UB Invitational. The freshman started all three matches, playing in 14 games and totaling 37 kills and 53 digs. Matikosh had 17 kills and 18 digs in a four-game win over Canisius. Trailing 14-12 in the fourth game versus the Griffs, she was part of UB's next three points with a pair of kills and an assisted block and served the final two points of the game and match for the UB win. Brian Wozniak of the men's soccer team recorded 14 saves en route to a 2-0 shutout over Central Connecticut State in UB's season opener.

The Bulls got the ball to start the game and picked up a pair of first downs before a costly turnover swung the momentum early. On a second-down play, linebacker Dwight Freeney stripped UB quarterback Joe Freedy on a blitz, with the ball recovered by Christian Ferrara at the Bulls' 35 yard line with 13:34 left in the first quarter.

Five plays later, the Orangemen struck first on a one-yard run by Chris Davis. After the Bulls were stopped on their next possession, the Orange moved 62 yards in eight plays to score again. This time Davis scored from two yards out. The extra point try was wide left.

The Bulls got their first big break when senior linebacker Noah Burroughs blocked a Syracuse punt and the ball was recovered by Duane Williams at the Syracuse 16. After moving to the SU nine-yard line, senior Scott Keller had his 26-yard field-goal attempt blocked.

The Orange used that momentum-changing play to drive 80 yards for another touchdown, this time with Johnson scoring from four yards out.

Syracuse struck again midway through the second quarter when cornerback LaTroy Oliver forced a fumble by junior flanker Dahnel Singfield, with the Orange recovering at the UB 29. Once again the Orange converted on a UB miscue as quarterback Troy Nunes hit tailback Dee Brown open in the left corner of the end zone from three yards out.

The Orange put the game away with 5:15 left in the first half on the ultimate momentum-changer after a 72-yard run by sophomore Bam McDonald set the Bulls up with first and goal inside the Orange five. On third and goal from the one, Freedy was stripped of the ball and Syracuse's Quentin Harris scooped it up and ran 91 yards for the touchdown that put SU up 35-0. The rout was on.

UB got its only score of the game late in the fourth quarter when Freedy hit Singfield on a 34-yard touchdown pass.

Volleyball

UB 3, Canisius 1 (9-15, 15-10, 15-13, 17-15)
Providence 3, UB 2 (9-15, 15-3, 15-4, 8-15, 15-12)
UB 4, Bucknell 1 (15-9, 15-11, 15-17, 5-15, 15-12)

Freshman Lindsay Matikosh earned Tournament Most Valuable Player honors at the UB Invitational after leading the Bulls (2-1) to a second-place finish with a 3-1 win over Canisius. UB downed the Griffs, 9-15, 15-10, 15-13, 17-15.

With the Bulls down 14-12 in the fourth game against Canisius, Matikosh accounted for three straight points with two kills and an assisted block, and she served for the final two points in the 17-15 UB win. Matikosh finished the game with 17 kills and 18 digs, and posted a total of 37 kills and 53 digs for the tournament. Junior Wendy Ryder also represented the Bulls on the All-Tournament Team, finishing with 16 kills against Canisius and 29 for the tournament. Junior Heather Barfuss added 10 kills and 10 digs against Canisius.

In their first match of the day, the Bulls dropped a 3-2 decision to tournament-champion Providence. Buffalo won the opening game of the match, 15-9, before Providence strung together 15-3 and 15-4 wins. A kill by Ryder gave the Bulls a 15-8 win in the fourth game, but the Friars held on for a 15-12 win in game five. Junior Amelia Liddle led the team with 11 kills and nine digs, and Ryder finished with 10 kills.

Matikosh had 17 kills and a game-high 22 digs to lead the Bulls past Bucknell, 4-1, (15-9, 15-11, 15-17, 5-15, 15-12) in the season and tournament opener. Keri Shiels finished with 19 kills on the night and three service aces, while junior Larissa LaCour led the team offensively with 63 assists. Barfuss added nine kills and 10 digs.

Soccer

Women's

UB 4, Niagara University 1

The Bulls improved to 3-0-0 on the season with a 4-1 victory at Niagara University on Monday.

The Purple Eagles got on the board first with a goal just five minutes into the game. But the Bulls tied it up just 12 minutes later when Paula Listrani scored her third goal in as many games this year, converting on a penalty kick at the 17:40 mark. UB would take the lead before the end of the first half as Nicole Olszewski scored her first career goal on an assist from Kelly Damon at the 25:45 mark.

UB would expand on that lead late in the second half. Emily Russell scored a goal off an assist from her sister, Devon Russell, at the 86:13 mark to make it 3-1. Three minutes later, Devon Russell got into the scoring frenzy off an assist from Olszewski at the 89:17 mark for the 4-1 final score.

Men's

UB 2, Central Connecticut State 0

The Bulls got their season under way on Sunday, defeating Central Connecticut State in the Blue Devils' own tournament by a 2-0 score.

UB got on the board early ias Jay Page scored the first goal at the 4:20 mark on an assist from Tim Songer. UB added to that lead at the 62:07 mark when Chris Vinci scored on an assist from Brian McCallion.

CCSU outshot the Bulls 18-7 in the game, but UB goalie Brian Wozniak played a strong game, recording 14 saves and finishing with the shutout.

The Bulls' first match of the tournament against Sacred Heart was canceled due to heavy rain.