It was all a blur for freshman defender Lukas Fedler.
Fedler scored the game-winning goal in the 107th minute against No. 18 Northern Illinois two weeks ago. What has stuck in his memory isn't the goal, but the feeling of elation.
"All I remember is my teammates running towards me and the celebration that followed," Fedler said. "My face still hurts, but it was worth it."
The Bulls' (7-5-1, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) 2-1 victory against the Huskies marked the first time that Buffalo defeated a nationally-ranked opponent since Sept. 1997, when it beat No. 19 Notre Dame.
"The win was huge for these kids' confidence, because they're working extremely hard," said interim head coach Dave Hesch. "They're doing the right things, and just getting the ball in the back of the net and grinding out wins is what we've been working on. It was a great win – especially against a ranked opponent."
According to Hesch, the Bulls' win wasn't a fluke, and the team might finally be hitting its stride. The Bulls followed up their huge performance against Northern Illinois with a 5-0 victory over Bowling Green (7-4-1, 1-1 MAC) on Sunday – the biggest win for Buffalo since 2008.
"I'm very confident heading into our conference schedule," Hesch said. "I think that if we play to our potential, we can grab that one or two seed come tournament time."
But in order to truly understand the makeup of this year's Bulls squad, you have to see past the overtime thrillers and the miraculous comebacks and examine the very fabric of this team. Over all other aspects, this year's squad is defined by selflessness.
Senior defender Nate Woods said the team's tight-knit structure is the reason the Bulls have been so successful this season. Buffalo finished 7-10-1 (3-3 MAC) last year, and Woods believes the team underachieved because it didn't possess the "all-for-one" attitude that this year's squad has adopted.
"We're a lot closer than last year," said sophomore midfielder Richard Craven. "Last year there were a lot of individual players, and this year we're very close. We're all on the same page; we're all brothers, always looking out for each other. There's no one who thinks they're better than anybody else. We work as a team."
In addition to the Bulls' chemistry, the team boasts some talented players who appear to be in top form entering conference play.
Junior forward Maksym Kowal ranks in the top-10 in the MAC in shots attempted, while senior forward Andy Tiedt is among the MAC leaders in goals. Junior midfielder Risto Latti is tied for the third-most assists in the MAC.
The Bulls' primary strength lies in junior goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi, who is among the conference's leaders in saves with 61. Viscosi has already registered four shutouts, which matches the team's 2010 total. Buffalo's pursuit of a conference championship begins with strong play between the pipes, and Hesch believes the Bulls have the right man for the job.
"Viscosi was doing well for a while, then he kind of tapered off a bit, but he's back in form," Hesch said. "He made some outstanding saves against Northern Illinois to keep us in the game in overtime. He's definitely been quality in net for us, and he's a pleasure to have."
The Bulls are solidifying themselves as legitimate contenders, but they still have one evident need – a bigger fan base.
"The excitement of soccer is unlike anything else," Woods said. "We're going to be battling hard to get results, and we're going to score and play some entertaining soccer, which we've managed to do quite a bit of this season. Get out there and show your Buffalo pride."
Fans have an opportunity to show their Buffalo pride and witness one of Buffalo's most successful programs as the fall season proceeds. The Bulls' next matchup is on the road, at Western Michigan (4-8-1, 0-1-1 MAC) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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