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Ohio 2, Eastern Michigan 1
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ATHENS, Ohio – A two-goal second half helped propel Ohio (11-3-2, 7-0-2) past Eastern Michigan (2-11-3, 1-6-2) on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 21), as the Bobcats defeated the Eagles by a score of 2-1. With the victory, the Bobcats extended their unbeaten streak in conference play to nine games, while also clinching a spot in the MAC Tournament. 
 
The Bobcats led the stat sheet in the first half offensively, as they took 11 shots, compared to the Eagles who only took two. Eastern Michigan took advantage of their limited chances however, scoring the first goal of the match in the 43rd minute off a redirection in front of net that snuck past Ohio goalkeeper Sam Wexell. The goal was the first concession by the Ohio defense in over 300 minutes of action, dating back to their matchup against Western Michigan on Oct. 7. 
 
The second 45 minutes of play started quickly for the Bobcats, as Miller rocketed home the equalizer in the 50th minute. The senior midfielder's fourth goal of the season was setup by graduate student Madison Clayton, her fourth assist of the 2021 campaign. Eastern Michigan applied pressure to the Bobcat defense as the half rolled on, with the Eagles taking six total shots after the break. But yet another strong effort from the Ohio backline that has allowed three goals in MAC play ensured the contest stayed tied at 1. The go-ahead goal came after Ohio possession consisting of 23 straight passes ended with a cross from Regan Berg being headed in by Robertson in the 72nd minute. The game winner was Robertson's fifth goal of the season, while Berg logged a go-ahead assist for the second game in a row, her third assist of the year. 
 
Ohio finished with 19 total shots, nine of them being on frame. Eastern Michigan was only able to put one of their eight total shots on goal, that being the goal in the first half. 
 
The victory clinched a spot in the MAC Tournament for the Bobcats, a return to the postseason after missing out following the COVID-shortened 2020 season. 
 
Buffalo 1, Bowling Green 0
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BOWLING GREEN, OHIO – Buffalo came away with a 1-0 win over Bowling Green at Cochrane Stadium.  With the win the Bulls improve to 11-3-2 overall and 5-2-2 in league play.

It was a defensive and physical battle in the first half with the two teams recording just as many fouls as shots. The Bulls had their first scoring opportunity of the game in the 23^rd minute as Alya Ruken had a great look from the left side of the box but her shot sailed just high and out of play. UB would hold the Falcons to just six shots in the opening 45 minutes of play as the game remained scoreless at the break.

Bowling Green would attack to start the second half as Audrey Shea had a good look on goal in the 50^th minute but Emily Kelly came up with a big stop for UB.

The Bulls broke through in the 61^st minute as Leah Wengender played a ball across the field to Katherine Camper settled it and slid a pass to Marcy Barberic who fired a shot from about 25 yards out into the bottom left corner of the net past a diving Lili Berg to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead.

The Falcons would try to mount a comeback, recording six shots in the final 25 minutes of play, including a pair of good looks from close range in the 84^th minute but Kelly and the UB defense came up with multiple stops and preserve the shutout victory.

Kelly picked up the win, making four saves on the night, as she and the Bulls recorded their sixth clean sheet of the season. Senior Tess Ford was named Player of the Game by the UB coaches.

Buffalo returns to action on Sunday, October 24 as they host Toledo on Senior Day at UB Stadium at 12pm.
 
Western Michigan 2, Ball State 0
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team shutout another MAC opponent at home, this time coming in the form of the Ball State Cardinals. The win is also the second consecutive victory by a 2-0 margin for the Broncos.

Senior forward Morgan Otteson got things rolling for the Broncos, sending a ball to back of the net in the 34^thminute of play off a feed from fellow senior forward Bailey Korhorn. This afternoon is also the second consecutive contest that Otteson has put the Broncos ahead early.

The second of the Bronco goals came via the right foot of sophomore midfielder Jenna Blackburn just 8 minutes later, giving her squad a 2-0 cushion going into the half. Assisting on the goal was junior forward Reagan Wisser.

The second half was a tale of defense for WMU, with senior goalkeeper Maggie Rogers thwarting five of the Cardinal shots on goal. Rogers finished the game with double digit saves, tallying a total of 10 in the game. The game marks the second time this season Rogers has finished with double-digit saves.

The Broncos finished with a total off 11 shots offensively. Three of the 11 came from the boot of Korhorn, with senior defender Kai Sugiyama and freshman midfielder Mary Dziuba each adding two shots as well.

WMU heads to Oxford, OH next for a meeting with the RedHawks of Miami on Sunday. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Northern Illinois 2, Miami 1
Boxscore
DEKALB, Ill. – A first half goal from Claudia Muessig (Paw Paw, Mich./Paw Paw) and a second half tally by Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) lifted the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Miami on Thursday night (Oct. 21) at the NIU Soccer Complex. 

Huskie goalkeeper Julia Lentz (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) made nine saves as NIU improved to 5-10-2 on the season, 2-5-2 in Mid-American Conference play. Miami falls to 7-7-3, 4-5 in the league. 

Miami had the first shot on target in the sixth minute as Makenna Morrison spun into space and fired a shot from distance that was easily held by Lentz. 

The Huskies opened the scoring in the 18th minute as Muessig netted direct from a corner kick. Muessig's corner slipped just inside the near post past Miami goalkeeper Izzie Vaccari to give NIU the one-goal lead.

Three minutes after the goal, Lentz made a save on a shot from Kennedy Gray that short hopped just in front of the NIU goalkeeper. 

Just before halftime, Lentz caught another harmless shot from distance by Kyleigh von Klahr as NIU took a 1-0 lead into the intermission. 

Near the hour mark, Miami won a free kick left of the NIU goal and from the ensuing free kick, Julia Hoffman flicked a header toward goal that was held by Lentz. Two minutes later, Morrison had an overhead kick from just inside the box that was headed for the corner of the goal, but Lentz got across to push it away. 

Hoppe doubled the NIU lead from a corner in the 71st minute. The Huskie corner kick was swung toward the top of the box where Abby McHugh (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda) flicked it toward Hoppe whose shot from about 10 yards took a deflection on its way to goal and beat Miami goalkeeper Emily Boutin to put the Huskies in front by a pair. 

Six minutes later, Miami pulled a goal back. The RedHawks won a free kick in the NIU half and sent it into the box where it was flicked on toward goal. The NIU defense retreated to the goal line and the ball was headed back away, only to deflect back into the net off a second Huskie defender and into the next to halve the NIU advantage. 

After the RedHawks got back within a goal, Lentz had two more stops to make, including one on a shot from near the top of the box by Kristina DeMarco in the 84th minute, as the Huskies picked up the victory in their final home game of the season. 

NIU will return to action on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 24, when the Huskies travel to Ball State. Kickoff against the Cardinals is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+. 
  
Toledo 2, Akron 0
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TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo closed out its home schedule with a 2-0 shutout over Akron in a key Mid-American Conference matchup Thursday night. Midfielders Olivia Dault and Grace Turski tallied for Toledo, and sophomore goalkeeper Emma Boutorwick recorded her eighth shutout. The victory helps keep Toledo (10-4-3, 5-3-1) in the thick of the hunt for a spot in the MAC playoffs.

Toledo and Akron (1-14-1, 1-7-1 MAC) both put up stiff defenses until Dault that found the back of the net to put her team up 1-0 at the 35-minute mark of the first half. The freshman took a pass from sophomore forward Ellie Pool and sent the ball to the bottom left corner of the net behind Akron's goalie Penelope Cuirinier.

The score remained 1-0 until senior midfielder Claire Cahalan sent a corner kick to the top of the box in perfect alignment for Turski. The sophomore headed the ball into the top right corner of the net for Toledo's second goal. Akron never seriously challenged after that.

Toledo's first of final two road games is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24 against Buffalo. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at UB Stadium. The Rockets' final regular-season game is at Bowling Green on Thursday, Oct. 28.
 
Central Michigan 1, Kent State 1
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The Kent State women's soccer team took on Central Michigan at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium, with the game resulting in a tie, 1-1. This moved the Flashes' record to 10-4-2 and 6-1-2 within the Mid-American Conference with only two regular season games remaining.

In what could potentially have been the last home game for the Flashes this season, head coach Rob Marinaro's team came out excited for this one. Playing for a top seed in the MAC tournament, Kent State went to battle with Central Michigan, a squad with a .500 record within the conference and hovering around the last seed.

And with both sides having a tremendous amount to play for, this game was incredibly evenly matched. Central Michigan jumped on the board first right before halftime, when sophomore forward Elizabeth Chlystun netted a shot in the 45th minute.

But Kent State would respond, when, in the 60th minute, senior defender Tianna Harris nailed a shot to even things up (freshman midfielder Siena Stambolich would get the assist).

No other scoring would occur the rest of the way though, as each offense found ways to reach the opposition's box, but couldn't quite finish off the drive. Kent State had more shots than Central Michigan, 18-15, but the Chippewas had more shots on-goal, 8-7. The Flashes had more corner kicks though, 9-6, as well as saves, 7-6. Kent State was also given two yellow cards, compared to CMU's one.

At one point in the first half, freshman midfield Alisa Arthur took a shot that was a possible Flashes goal, with the ball bouncing off the crossbar and perhaps crossing the white line during afterwards. However, the call on the field was no goal, and video review is not utilized in soccer, so the Flashes were left wondering what could have been.

Despite the tie though, Kent State actually gained ground in the MAC standings Thursday, due to Bowling Green losing to Buffalo, propelling the Flashes to second place in the conference. And with a pair of road matches at Eastern Michigan and first-place Ohio looming large on the horizon, the Flashes are looking ahead with confidence and determination. The first of those last two games, at Eastern Michigan, is set to take place Sunday at 1 PM.