UB has fought back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the match midway through the second half. Lee Sharkey converted a penalty and Josh Kirk headed in a free kick to bring the teams even.

Bryant pulled ahead by two goals late in the final half when Sharkey, who comes from Glasgow, Scotland, scored on another penalty goal in the 86th minute. But Bryant’s defenses held in the closing minutes.

Ibra Jagne, with an assist from Craig McLeod, also scored for UB.

The Purple Knights got to the finals, held in Smithfield, R.I., the second weekend in November, by beating Assumption College 4-2 in the semifinals the day before. Sharkey scored all four goals in that match, with assists from Steindor Gislason, Josh Kirk and Ibra Jagne. Goalie Adam Dodge made six saves.

The loss in the finals failed to dim the glitter of a spectacular season that had fans and followers on campus beaming with pride.

The Purple Knights, coached by Brian Quinn, who is in his second year at the helm, finished their season at 13-5-2 with a 6-0-2 record in regular season play in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference.

This season marked a remarkable turnaround for a team that finished last year with a 4-12-2 record. This year’s team ran up the best UB record on the soccer field in 10 years. The 1991 Knights, with Seth Roland as coach, had an identical record.

The Knights were co-champions of the NYCAC. The team finished the regular season third ranked in the Northeast Region and ranked 20th nationally in the final regular season NSCAA/Adidas Division II Men’s poll.