Oct. 20, 2006

Box Score

Buffalo, New York- Northern Illinois played admirably against MAC foe Buffalo on Friday night, but fell short 1-0 at UB Stadium.

Bulls Andrae Clarke scored the only goal of the game in the 85th minute of play. The goal materialized from a throw-in about 14 yards out by teammate Sola Abolaji. Clarke sailed the ball to the right side of the net past goalie Joe Zimka (Algonquin, Ill./ Jacobs). Clarke's goal broke Zimka's seven-game uninterrupted shutout record tallying 754 minutes of play.

Buffalo was the first team in the Mid-American Conference to break NIU's flawless league record. From a statistical standpoint the Huskies lead the board with 15 shots comparatively to the Bulls 11.

"Buffalo came out tonight physical, but we neutralized them well," said NIU men's soccer coach Steve Simmons. "We took it to them all night, but their goal keeper really kept them in the game."

NIU's best chance to stay atop the leader board was called back on an offsides.

The loss drops NIU to 4-1 in the MAC and 11-4-1 overall and ends their eight-game unbeaten streak. Buffalo improved their league-best mark to 3-1 and 9-5-2 for the year. The Bulls lead the all-time series against the Huskies 7-5-0.

The Huskies return to action on Sunday (Oct. 22), hosting Wisconsin at 2:15 p.m. in their final home match.

--NIU--

(For further information, please contact Katie Hein at 815.753.9572).