Sept. 2, 2008
Final Stats
Siena men's soccer took their first loss of the season by a score of 2-0 to the University at Buffalo this afternoon at Siena Field. Bulls' defender Steffen Thoresen tallied the game winning goal in the 40th minute on a free kick from midfield.
Buffalo (2-0) and Siena (1-1) brought the physical play early in the first half with seven fouls apiece. In the 14th minute, a Bulls foul sparked a skirmish in front of the visitor's bench resulting in yellow cards on Siena's Sebastien Anzevui and Buffalo's Dan Bulley (who was on the bench at the time).
Siena and Buffalo traded chances in the first half. Junior Bobby DiFilippo had a breakaway in the 27th minute - 30 seconds after entering the game - but Buffalo's goalkeeper Robert Shuttleworth came out and blocked the shot away.
Buffalo got on the scoreboard in the 40th minute on a free kick from midfield. Junior Steffen Thoresen hit a long ball which sailed over everyone, including the leaping Saints goalkeeper Steve Skonieczny. Skonieczny made a game-high eight saves.
Buffalo outshot Siena 11-5 in the first half and 22-9 overall.
The Bulls extended their lead in the 66th minute when junior Alex Marrello sent a pass from the top of the box to the left side where freshman Rich Wilson ran onto it and hit a shot that squeezed under a sprawling Skonieczny. Siena had their last good chance in the 80th minute when senior Mike DeSimone stole a pass from Shuttleworth in the middle of the field, whirled around and hit the ball up to sophomore Joe Tavernese who turned with space, but hit the shot wide.
The Saints return to action on Saturday when they play UMass in Amherst at 1 p.m.
