10-1-0 in its first 11 games. As a result of their early success, the Bulls received their first Division-I national ranking in school history, being named 20th according to the NSCAA/Adidas rankings. As a third-seed in the MAC Tournament, the Bulls handed loses to both sixth-seeded IPFW and second-seeded Northern Illinois before taking top-seeded and nationally third-ranked Akron into double overtime, falling 7–6 in a final shootout. In the 2004 season, UB finished 8-8-2, including a 6-0-1 start to the year. The Bulls upset third-seeded Northern Illinois in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to eventual MAC AkrChampionon. UB combined for a 7-21-4 record during the 2002 and 2003 seasons, bowing out in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals both seasons. In 2001, for the third time since UB joined the MAC in 1998, Astudillo led the Bulls to a winning record. UB finished 8-7-2 overall and placed fourth in the conference. The Bulls qualified for the MAC Tournament but lost, 1–0, in a triple-overtime heartbreaker to Bowling Green in the quarterfinals. He guided the Bulls to a 6-10-2 record and a sixth-place finish in the MAC during the 2000 campaign. UB hosted the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the MAC Tournament where they upset third-seeded Akron, 2-1, in the quarterfinal round before falling to Bowling Green, 1-0, in the semifinals. Astudillo's Bulls posted a 10-7-1 overall record in 1999 and finished fifth in the MAC. Steve Butcher, who went on to play professionally for both the Buffalo Blizzard and Rochester Rhinos, received the highest individual honor from the conference as he was named MAC Player of the Year. In the Bulls' first year competing in the MAC, 1998, UB finished with a 13-8-0 record under Astudillo. As the sixth seed in the MAC Tournament, Astudillo's team made some noise, defeating third-seeded Northern Illinois, 1-0, in overtime in the first round. In the second round of the tournament, the Bulls took the regular-season champion and nationally ranked Akron into three overtimes before falling, 3–2. The growth for UB soccer began as soon as Astudillo was named the UB head coach in 1989 and the Bulls were competing at the Division II level. Astudillo was named the New York State Region III Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulls to a 9–9 record in his first season. He proceeded to guide the Bulls to a school-record 14 wins in