BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's soccer team dominated from start to finish as they defeated Ball State 2-0 to win the 2022 Mid-American Conference Championship in front of a packed house at UB Stadium on Sunday afternoon. It is the second MAC Championship in program history, earning UB their second trip to the NCAA Tournament.

With the win, the Bulls extended their program-record unbeaten streak to 17 matches and close out the season with an 11-0-1 record at UB Stadium. The Bulls also recorded their 14th shutout of the year, matching the 2014 MAC championship squad for the best in program history.

Buffalo controlled the tempo from the opening kick and would have their first good look of the game in the 14th minute as Jasmine Guerber fired a shot on net, but the Cardinals knocked it out of play.

The Bulls got on the board in the 18th minute as Leah Wengender settled and drilled a shot from 30 yards out that curled into the top left corner of the net to give UB a 1-0 lead.

Buffalo continued to attack in the 21st minute as Guerber had her shot blocked and then Payton Robertson was there for the rebound but her shot sailed high. Later, in the 31st minute, Hannah Callaghan got her head on a ball off a corner kick, but Bailey Moser made the save and a few minutes later, Arianna Zumpano had a good scoring chance, but Moser was there for the stop once again and the Bulls maintained a one-goal lead at the break. The UB backline held the Cardinals without a shot in the opening 45 minutes of play.

The Bulls continued to be the aggressors in the second half as freshman Katie Krohn gave the UB a pair of scoring chances in the 65th and 69th minutes but the Ball State defense turned both shot attempts away.

Buffalo stayed aggressive and it paid off in the 74th minute as Kaya Schultz fed a great ball through to Zumpano who drilled a shot low across the box and into the bottom right corner of the net to put the Bulls up 2-0 and that was more than enough to secure the victory.

For the match, UB held the 10-4 edge in total shots, including a 7-1 edge in shots on goal, while also holding a 4-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Guerber, Krohn and Zumpano led the Bulls with three shots apiece.

Fifth year goalkeeper Emily Kelly's historic career continued Sunday afternoon as she made one save to earn her 13th shutout of the season and program-record 35th clean sheet of her storied career.

Following the victory, Callaghan, Kelly, Wengender and Tess Ford were named to the MAC All-Tournament Team.

"So happy for the players," said 2022 MAC Coach of the Year Shawn Burke. "To do this at home in front of another amazing crowd and all their family and friends, you see the celebration still continuing on the field. To know the journey, especially for our fifth year seniors, I'm just at a loss for words because I'm so happy for them."

Buffalo now waits to find out where they will head for the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced on Monday at 4:00 pm.

2022 All-Tournament Team
Maya Dean, Bowling Green
Isabelle Gilmore, Bowling Green
Emily Sexton, Miami
Maddie Schlecht, Miami
Sammi Corcoran, Ball State
Jenna Dombrowski, Ball State
Bethany Moser, Ball State
Emily Kelly, Buffalo
Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Tess Ford, Buffalo
Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo - MVP