HAMILTON, N.Y. (09/23/05) - Undefeated University at Buffalo (8-0) handed the Colgate University men’s soccer team its second loss of the season on Friday night ,in a 2-1 game in favor of the Bulls. Buffalo, ranked No. 3 in the region, three slots ahead of Colgate, remains with the best record in Division I soccer.

The Raiders had control through much of the first half, outshooting their opponent 10-7. Along with the steady offense, the Raider defense surprised the Bulls, who have the second best defense in the country themselves.

Opening the scoring was junior midfielder Charlie Lambropoulos (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West) who took a corner kick for Colgate on the left side of the offensive zone. He lofted the ball in to the slew of Raider players in front of the net, but it was leading scorer Devin Deane (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) that put a head on the ball. The ball fell back to the left side of the net, where Lambropoulos was joining the play. He sent a pass to senior Bryant Meckley (Hanover, Pa./Southwestern) who blasted a shot past Buffalo’s keeper Dan Bell to put the Raiders on the scoreboard. It was the senior midfielder’s first goal of the season and third goal of his career.

In the second half, the Bulls came out seeking to keep their unbeaten streak alive and applied heavy pressure. Fourteen minutes into the second stanza, a penalty kick was awarded to Buffalo after an inadvertent handball in the Raider box. Lee Cathpole set up at the 12-yard marker and sent a rocket to the right side of the net past a diving Doug Litvack (Levittown, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) for the equalizer.

The Bulls continued pressuring, putting nine shots on net and holding the Raiders to just three in the second half.

Making a risky play at 85:15, Litvack came out of the box to pick up the ball shot by Brian Knapp but the ball hit the field at an awkward angle and bounced high. Litvack wasn’t expecting the ball to end up where it did, but a streaking Andrae Clarke took advantage of the free ball and knocked it to the left corner pocket for the game-winner.

Litvack made six stops in net for the Raiders, while Buffalo’s Dan Bell also made six and improved his record to 8-0-0. Freshman David Cappuccio made his first collegiate appearance in net for the Raiders, in an interesting move by the Colgate coaching staff in the second.  He was relieved by Litvack after taking a brief 32-second rest.

The Raiders (3-2-2) travel to Siena on Sunday to take on the Saints in Loudonville, N.Y. for a 4 p.m. contest.