VS No. 23 Midwestern State 10-30-14: (Live Stats / Video / Tickets) AT No. 22 Fort Hays State 11-2-14: (Live Stats) Buffalo Soccer Game Notes CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M men's soccer team will return to action later this week with two big regional matches against ranked opponents. The Buffs will first close out their home schedule with a Senior Day matchup against rival No. 23 Midwestern State at in Canyon. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at The Pitch. WT will then get another shot at No. 22 Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan. on Sunday at 1 p.m.
LIVE COVERAGE: Live stats and a free video webstream will be provided for Thursday's matchup with MSU that kicks off at 7 p.m. provided by West Texas A&M Athletic Media Relations. Live stats will also be provided by FHSU Athletics for Sunday's game. Links can be found at the top of the page or on www.GoBuffsGo.com via the men's soccer schedule page.
CAREER 700th: Head coach
Butch Lauffer returned this fall for his 24th season at the helm of the Buffs. The Washington, D.C., native, holds a 281-125-32 all-time record in his tenure as the men's coach (1991-present). Including his 14 years as the head women's coach (1996-2009), Lauffer is 470-192-49 with the Buffs and Lady Buffs. On Sept. 12, 2014 at CSU-Pueblo, Lauffer coached his 700th career game for WT on the pitch (men and women combined), a 5-3 victory over the ThunderWolves.
SENIOR DAY: Thursday night's game will mark the last time that five Buffalo seniors will take the pitch at home in their careers. Come out the field early as we will celebrate Senior Day starting approximately 15 minutes before the 7 p.m. kickoff. Those players being honored include
Michael Williams,
Vitor Cardoso,
Christopher Hutton, and
Carlos Ruiz:
Michael WilliamsWilliams came to WT in the fall of 2011 by way of Ivybridge Community College in Plymouth, England. For his career, he has played in and started all 63 games for the Buffs dating back to the beginning of his freshman season and has logged over 5,500 minutes. Williams has totaled six goals and six assists as a defender. His career honors include 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-District, 2013 Daktronics Second-Team All-Region, 2012 LSC Second-Team All-Conference, and 2012 LSC Academic All Conference. He will be graduating in May with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science.
Vitor CardosoCardoso has gotten the starting nod in 29 of his 30 games so far with the Buffs in two seasons since transferring in from Middle Georgia State College in 2013. The Sãu Paulo, Brazil, native, has scored 10 goals and added four assists for 24 total points in his short WT career while he is also a perfect 5-5 from penalty kicks. He leads the team this season in both goals (6) and points (16). Cardoso will be will be graduating in May with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Christopher HuttonHutton came to WT in the fall of 2011 by way of Birmingham, England. For his career, he has played in 40 games for the Buffs while starting in 18, scoring seven goals and adding eight assists. He has been the breakout performer for WT this season, contributing the second-most points (13) from four goals and a team-high five assists. Hutton will be graduating in May with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science.
Carlos RuizRuiz has played in 22 games with 12 starts for the Buffs in goal since joining the program in 2011. The Bogata, Columbia, native, holds an 8-3-3 record with 41 career saves, a 1.26 GAA and a .661 save percentage. Ruiz will be graduating in the spring with a degree in Management.
22-STRAIGHT NON-LOSING SEASONS: With their 1-0 victory over Texas A&M-International last Wednesday in Laredo, the Buffs secured their 22nd-consecutive non-losing season. With an 8-5-1 record, the Buffs have three matches left and at worst could finish with an 8-8-1 mark. WT's streak dates back to 1993 while it has only recorded a losing season just once in its history, that coming in 1992, its second season in program history, when it finished 7-11. In the 24 years of the program's existence, Lauffer's Buffs have recorded eight wins in all but two seasons.
MIDWESTERN STATE AT A GLANCE: The Mustangs are continuing to have an excellent season and are looking for a late push to propel themselves into the NCAA Tournament. They will come into Canyon on Thursday night boasting an impressive 11-3-2 record. After dropping its first game, MSU went undefeated in 11-straight matches, winning nine and drawing two, but have since went 2-2 in its last four. At the end of that stretch, the Mustangs have dropped contests to then-16th ranked St. Edward's and Eastern New Mexico while picking up wins against Southwestern Christian and TAMIU.
MSU has had no problem finding the net this season as it has outscored opponents 41-17. Leading the way offensively has been Andrew Power with 12 goals and 25 points. Len Smith has also contributed eight scores while Paul Sunderland has been the playmaker with eight total assists on the year. Nick Petolick has been outstanding between the pipes once again this year, starting all 16 matches, owning a 1.01 GAA and a .707 save percentage with 41 saves and 17 goals allowed.
WT is 17-24-3 all-time against the Mustangs. The Buffs dropped both meetings last season and lost a close 3-2 overtime thriller earlier this season in Wichita Falls.
FORT HAYS STATE AT A GLANCE: FHSU currently owns a 11-3-2 overall record and has gone 8-2-1 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. The Tigers are currently undefeated in their previous 10 games while they won nine-straight before playing to a draw their last time out, 1-1 to then-15th ranked Northeastern State. Before hosting the Buffs on Sunday, the Tigers will close out their conference schedule at Upper Iowa on Thursday at 2 p.m.
The Tigers own a very balanced scoring attack as five players have recorded at least five goals each. Leading the way offensively has been Tanner Brock with a team-high goals (6) and points (18). Kent Freund has seen the majority of time in goal, starting 13 matches and appearing in 14, owning a .93 GAA and .803 save percentage while playing over 1,200 minutes. He boasts a 10-2-2 record with six shutouts and 53 saves on the year.
The Buffs are 4-2-1 all-time against the Tigers. After winning both contests last season, WT dropped the first meeting this year, 1-0, at home in Canyon on Oct. 2.
TEXAS A&M-INTERNATIONAL REVISITED: WT Freshman
Brandon Bautista propelled the West Texas A&M men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Texas A&M-International on the road Wednesday night with his first goal of the season, a late second half strike in the 70th minute. With the win, the Buffs improved to 8-5-1 on the year and secured its 22nd-straight non-losing season. TAMIU drops to 8-6-1 with the loss.
TAMIU doubled up the Buffs in shots on the night, 14-7, and also held the advantage in shots-on-goal, 6-4. Leading the way for the Buffs was Cardoso with two followed by five other players with one attempt each. Sophomore keeper
Patrick Satorie picked up the win and improved to 6-5-1 on the year after grabbing the shutout tonight with six saves.
The Buffs then took advantage of the rare opportunity in the 70th minute as Bautista converted with a strike from two yards out to beat the keeper and give the Buffs the game-winner. Hutton was awarded the assist with a cross along the goal line from the close right wing.
With the win, the Buffs improved to 6-2-2 all-time against the Dustdevils and split the season series 1-1 after dropping a 2-1 decision in Canyon earlier in the season.
