Sunday’s Soccer Results
Buffalo 3, Northern Illinois 0
Toledo 1, Akron 0
Bowling Green 1, Miami 1
Kent State 0, Ohio 0
Eastern Michigan 0, Ball State 0
Western Michigan 0, Central Michigan 0
Stories Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments
Buffalo 3, Northern Illinois 0
Box Score
BUFFALO, NY – Senior forward Arianna Zumpano netted a pair of goals to lead the University at Buffalo women's soccer team (8-1-2, 3-1-0 MAC) to a 3-0 win over Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at UB Stadium.
Today's result was the third shutout in league action and seventh overall for the Bulls this season.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the early going with neither team maintaining possession before the Bulls started to attack and were able to strike first as Kaya Schultz swung the ball across to Ellie Simmons who then played a perfect pass into space that found Jasmine Guerber and she lobbed a shot over the head of the onrushing Ary Purifoy to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead.
Buffalo continued to press in the 20th minute as they drew a foul just outside the box and Kaylin Ricci delivered a great strike on the ensuing free kick, threading the needle, but Purifoy made a great diving save.
The Huskies turned the tide towards the end of the half and went on their own attack as Tyra King got behind the UB backline and drilled a shot from point blank range, but Lexie Thompson made a great save. A minute later, on an NIU corner kick, Thompson made another stellar play, knocking the ball out of play and then on the following corner kick, Lea Gruennagel played a great ball that curled on target, but Thompson was there once again, making another fantastic leaping save to keep the Huskies off the board.
The Bulls would then add to their lead in the 40th minute as Laiken Kiser and Schultz connected in the midfield and Schultz delivered another perfect pass, this time to a streaking Zumpano who fired a shot across the box into the bottom left corner of the net to put UB up 2-0 at the half.
Northern Illinois came out aggressive to start the second half as they had a breakaway opportunity in the 53rd minute but Maya Galko made a fantastic tackle to stop the attack. Later, in the 58th minute, King broke free down the right side and ripped a shot on goal but Thompson made another leaping save.
Buffalo continued to attack in the 73rd minute as Kiser won a pair of challenges and poked a ball into space for Zumpano who tracked it down and fired a shot back post for her second goal of the day to put UB up 3-0 and that would be more than enough to secure the victory.
UB and NIU were nearly even on the day in total shots, shots on goal and corner kick opportunities. Thompson was one shy of her career-high with eight saves in her seventh shutout of the season while Purifoy made four stops for the Huskies. Zumpano and Galko were named Co-Players of the Game by the UB coaching staff.
Toledo 1, Akron 0
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio – Kaema Amachree's 48th-minute goal was the difference in the Toledo women's soccer team's 1-0 victory over Akron at Paul Hotmer Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Rockets (4-5-2, 1-2-1 MAC) finished off an undefeated week with its second consecutive shutout to send the Zips (5-4-2, 0-4-0) to their fourth-straight defeat to start conference play.
Amachree's goal was part of three shots and two shots on goal for the match. Senior Olivia Dault led Toledo with five shots on the afternoon, with three on goal. Junior Agnes Stenlund made four saves, including three in the second half for her fifth shutout of the season.
"We had a good turnaround from the first half to the second half," said Head Coach Mark Batman. "The second half was much more of who we are and we found our identity. That was a good response and we're happy to get four points this week."
HOW IT HAPPENED
37' | A shot by Akron's Casey Quinn was saved by Agnes Stenlund and the rebound attempt was blocked by Toledo's defense.
46' | The Rockets got a flurry of three shots – by Olivia Dault, Brooklyn Whitehead and Kaema Amachree in succession, but all three shots were saved by the goalkeeper.
48' | Off of a cross from Emily Mann, Dault's initial header was saved, but Amachree pounced on the rebound for the goal from right in front of the net.
76' | Akron put an attempt on goal to the lower-left corner, forcing a diving save by Stenlund.
GAME NOTES
- Toledo out-shot Akron 10-7, with all Rocket shots coming in the second half.
- Amachree's goal makes her the fourth Rocket with multiple goals on the season.
- Stenlund recorded her fifth shutout of the season and 12th of her career. Her five clean sheets is the most she has recorded in one year.
- Toledo's defense has now shut out its opponent in the first half in each of its last six matches.
