Thursday’s Women’s Soccer Results
Ball State 2, Toledo 1
Buffalo 2, Ohio 1
Western Michigan 1, Eastern Michigan 0
Bowling Green 1, Northern Illinois 0
UMass 0, Miami 0
Kent State 1, Central Michigan 1
Stories Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments
Ball State 2, Toledo 1
Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State soccer team got a game-winning goal from Jess Fernau to beat Toledo 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at the Briner Sports Complex.
The Cardinals (8-5-2, 5-3-1 Mid-American Conference) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Addie Chester scored with the left foot on an assist by Tori Monaco in the 27th minute. The visiting Rockets (3-5-6, 0-4-4 MAC) responded early in the second period with a goal in the 56th minute to tie the contest.
Fernau hit the bottom of the crossbar with a shot in the 73rd minute that bounced down and narrowly crossed inside the goal line before bouncing out to give the Cardinals the 2-1 edge. The score was the freshman's first of her collegiate career.
Ball State outshot Toledo 11-5, including 6-1 in the first half. Fernau took three of the shots, while Chester, Delaney Caldwell and LG Moncrief had two looks each.
Goalkeeper Kate Pallante went the distance and made a save to earn the win. Delaney Ahearn, Grier Isaacson, Kira Verburg and defending MAC Defensive Player of the Week Jordyn Klaasen joined Pallante in playing the full 90 minutes.
The hosts generated more corner kicks (4-3) and committed fewer fouls (12-10) and offsides violations (5-1) on the day.
Buffalo 2, Ohio 1
Box Score
ATHENS, OHIO – The University at Buffalo women's soccer team (11-3-1, 7-2 MAC) defeated Ohio 2-1 at Chessa Field on Thursday afternoon.
Junior defender/midfielder Eva Blatz and senior midfielder Koby Commandant each recorded their second goals of the season in the victory.
The Bobcats took the opening kick and earned a corner in the first minute, which turned into a good scoring opportunity, but Lexie Thompson leapt up to her left to make a fantastic save.
The Bulls got the ball into their final third in the 10th minute as Sarah Woods made a run up the right side and crossed a ball to Jasmine Guerber who ripped a shot from point blank range, but an Ohio defender got in front to make the stop.
Buffalo got on the board in the 27th minute with some set piece magic as Ellie Simmons took the corner and played a beautiful ball across the box that landed at the feet of Blatz who drilled a shot into the top left corner of the net to put UB up 1-0.
The Bobcats looked to even things 10 minutes later as they had a good look from the top of the box but Thompson made a good save and then in the final seconds, the hosts played a ball into the box that was headed on target but Thompson was there for the stop once again and the Bulls maintained a one-goal lead at the half.
Buffalo was on the attack early in the second half as Adriana Victoriano found Guerber in front of the net and she ripped a shot, but Celeste Sloma made a diving save.
Ohio countered with a scoring change of their own in the 55th minute as Rayann Pruss found herself alone inside the box and drilled a shot on net but Thompson made an incredible leaping save to punch the ball over the crossbar.
The Bulls added an insurance goal in the 64th minute as Woods made a beautiful run up the right side and crossed a ball to the opposite side of the box that found the head of Commandant who converted her second header goal of the year to give UB a 2-0 lead. The Bobcats got on the board in the final minutes of the game, but Buffalo was able to hold on for the victory.
Despite managing just six shot attempts on the day, the Bulls were efficient as five were on target, including two goals. Thompson made four saves between the pipes for UB.
Western Michigan 1, Eastern Michigan 0
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team picked up its 10th win of the season, defeating Eastern Michigan by a final score of 1-0 on Thursday at the WMU Soccer Complex.
Mira Pierre-Webster tallied the game-winning goal, with Abigail Baldridge and June Mullen providing the assists. Reagan Sulaver totaled three saves in net to earn the shutout.
FIRST HALF
The Broncos came out aggressive, getting shots on net from Drew Martin and Mikayla Coore-Pascal in the opening six minutes of the half. Both defenses stiffened, with neither team getting another shot until EMU's off-target chance in the 29th minute.
From there, Avery Peters nearly pushed the Brown and Gold in front. Her shot was handled by Eagles goalkeeper Ella Holland. Holland made a few more big saves down the stretch, including a shot from Justina L'Esperance right out in front of the net.
Despite the constant pressure from WMU, the two teams would head to the half tied at 0-0.
SECOND HALF
Mullen had an early chance just miss the goal, and Western Michigan eventually earned back-to-back corner kicks. Holland was there to eliminate the threat for the Broncos.
Sulaver then stopped an EMU free kick that was tracking toward the top corner of the net in the 56th minute. Right after that, Abby Smothers was able to counter on offense. Holland just got a piece of her shot to keep it out of the net.
A little bit later, Sulaver stopped an ambitious chance from the Eagles, scooping up the shot in the middle of the goal. On other end, Martin tried to create some space, but she had her attempt blocked out front of the goal.
Down the stretch, Pierre-Webster and Ava Beckett would have shots on net saved. After all of the chances, WMU would finally breakthrough with just over seven minutes to play in the game. After some nice passing out front of the net, Pierre-Webster drilled a shot into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
With under five minutes to play, EMU would show some fight. However, Western Michigan's defense proved to be too much. The Broncos closed out a 1-0 victory.
Bowling Green 1, Northern Illinois 0
Box Score
Postgame recap coming soon.
