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Bulls Cool West Virginia, Illinois State

Mar. 15, 2010

Despite freezing temperatures and snowflakes a-flying, the University at Buffalo men’s lacrosse team toughed out an Easter weekend doubleheader, beating conference foe West Virginia, 15-7 and Illinois State, 11-2.

The weekend, which was originally intended to have a game per day for three days for Buffalo, became a shortened affair when the University of New Hampshire team, whom the Bulls traveled to compete against last year, refused to make the trip to New York. In lieu of their absence, the three teams present played each other, totaling two games for each team.

Buffalo 15, West Virginia 7

The Bulls started the game looking incredibly sloppy and letting the Mountaineers play with them until half. With three goals in the first quarter and three in the second, the score at halftime was an even 6-6.

The Bulls exploded for eight goals in the third, led by senior attacker Ryan Mierzwa (Lancaster), who had six goals in the game, and sophomore attacker Brian Loeffler (West Islip), who added four goals and an assist. Loeffler leads the CCLA in goals per game and is second in points per game.

Junior attacker Matt Wachler (Syosset) added two goals despite and injured wrist and senior midfielder Mike Terranova (Fayetteville-Manlius) had a goal and an assist. Also with points for the Bulls were Owen Lipp (Saratoga Springs) and John Curaba (Coram) with two assists apiece; Andy Evans (Chenango-Forks) and Ryan Eastman (Hilton) with a goal apiece; and Phil Manez (Nanuet), Matt Beres (Hamlin) and Erik Tinti (Auburn) with an assist each. Senior netminder Jason Reynolds had 15 saves in the victory.

Buffalo 11, Illinois State 2

After one game in the frigid air of Kunz Stadium, the Bulls warmed themselves for a few minutes only to have to come back out for another game, this one against non-conference opponent Illinois State. The cold may have shocked the visiting Redbirds, whose only two goals were scored by sophomore attacker Mike Synek.

Buffalo played a solid game from end to end and improved their record to 5-2. Brian Loeffler (West Islip) continued his dominance in a six-goal, seven-point performance, while Ryan Mierzwa (Lancaster) continued his steady play, netting three. Erik Tinti (Auburn) etched a goal and assist and John Curaba (Coram) fired one of his own. Freshman Nick Edson (Amherst) had two assists, followed by Andy Evans (Chenango-Forks) and Mike Terranova (Fayetteville-Malius) with one each.

-Tim Lowden