Russell Cicerone struck a blow for FC Buffalo, as his brace and assist led the Wolves to a 3-0 win over 10-man AFC Cleveland on Friday night at the Demske Sports Complex at Canisius College.
The Wolves struck quickly. Really quickly. Like stupid quickly.
Ian Mort (SUNY Geneseo // Rochester, N.Y.) caused a turnover deep in AFC Cleveland off the kickoff, Cicerone (University at Buffalo // Bloomfield Hills, Mich) seized the loose ball and found Kendell McFayden (Medaille College // Buffalo, N.Y.).
The longtime Blitzer marked his return to the starting lineup with a goal just 19 seconds into the game, and FCB was up 1-0.
Despite the hot beginning, the visitors controlled the first half of possession. There weren’t too many shots to be found.
FCB picked up some momentum from the introductions of Brian Knapp (University at Buffalo // Liverpool, N.Y.) and Kristian Lee-Him (University at Buffalo // Pickering, Canada) in the second half, and then caught a break in the 70th minute when AFC Cleveland’s Derek Creviston picked up consecutive yellow cards for a studs-up tackle and verbal abuse of an official.
Cicerone then scored a couple of stunners.
The first, in the 79th minute, came from a low pass from Daniel Hunt (St. Lawrence University // South Glastonbury, Conn.). Cicerone snagged the ball, navigated his way through a plethora of Royals and then slotted home for his fourth of the season before leaping the barrier to join The Situation Room in celebration.
His second of the night could only provide shoulder shrugging, “How?” With his back to goal, Cicerone took a long throw from Knapp and poked it by the keeper.
The win was FCB coach Brendan Murphy’s 10th as manager of the Wolves. He’s the first coach to reach that milestone.
LINEUPS
FC Buffalo: Cassis; T. Allen, Rinow, Ross, Moraldo (Hunt, 76′); C. Walter, Bednarsky (Tagaloa, 76′), Hanson (Knapp, 54′), Cicerone (Berardi, 87′); Mort (Thomas, 80′), McFayden (Lee-Him, 61′)
Goals: McFayden (1′), Cicerone 2 (79′, 88′).
AFC Cleveland: Flowers; Creviston, Fairley, O’Callaghan, Martin; Beck (Arbeload, 58′), Minick, McGlaughlin, Osalodor; Grant, Mitchell
