Women's Soccer

Thursday's Women's Soccer #MACtion Results

Thursday’s Women’s Soccer Results
Kent State 2, UMass 1
Western Michigan 1, Ohio 0
Buffalo 2, Ball State 1
Miami 1, Eastern Michigan 0
Toledo 1, Central Michigan 1
Northern Illinois 0, Akron 0
Stories Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments

Kent State 2, UMass 1
Box Score
Kent, Ohio- The Kent State Soccer team did not disappoint in their first home game in nearly a month as they took down the University of Massachusetts Minutewomen 2-1 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs as the first year in the MAC for UMass. 

Both teams played physical games right out of the gate on both ends of the ball. Kent State got on the board first in the 21st-minute from an Olimpico as junior midfielder Samantha Miller put a perfectly-placed corner kick in the top right portion of the net for a goal to give her team heading into the halftime break. 

KSU would build on that lead in the 66th-minute as Kelsey Salopek came quickly down the field and fired a long-range shot that found the back of the net. She has now scored a goal in each of the first three conference games of the season for the Blue and Gold.

In the 79th-minute, UMass capitalized on a KSU penalty in the box as Morgan Bellamy was able to capitalize with a penalty goal to bring it to 2-1. The Flashes finished with solid play in the back-line for the final 10 minutes to secure the victory at home.

Kent State led the game in the shooting category 12-9 in overall shots and 5-4 in shots-on-goal. The Minutewomen were able to control the corner kick statistic with a tally of 6-5. Leah Shaffer grabbed three more saves to her name in the win.

Western Michigan 1, Ohio 0
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's soccer team extended its MAC unbeaten streak to 26 games after a 1-0 win over Ohio at the WMU Soccer Complex.

The Broncos (6-2-1, 2-0-1) outshot the Bobcats 13-5 overall and 7-2 in shots on goal. Drew Martin scored the lone goal of the game, curling in a corner kick from the left side in the 51' minute for her third tally of the season. Freshman keeper Reagan Sulaver saved two shots to earn her third shutout of the season.

FIRST HALF
Western Michigan controlled play for the majority of the first half, firing off five shots but Ohio pressed during the final 10 minutes, getting its only two shots on goal in the game. 

WMU had chances by Martin, Madi Canada, Abby Werthman and Heidi Thomasma. 

SECOND HALF
The Broncos took the opening kickoff of the second half and immediately put the pressure on, culminating with the corner kick in the 50' minute. Martin stepped up to take the corner kick and curled it inside the right post in front of traffic and into the net. 

From there, Mira Pierre-Webster and the Bronco defense shut down the Bobcats, allowing just 1 total shot.

Buffalo 2, Ball State 1
Box Score
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's soccer team (6-2-1, 2-1 MAC) defeated Ball State 2-1 at UB Stadium on Thursday night.

Graduate student forward Jasmine Guerber and freshman midfielder Adriana Victoriano each recorded a first half goal in the win.

The Bulls were in attack mode from the opening kick as Ellie Simmons played a perfect corner kick ball to the head of Eva Blatz who flicked a shot on goal from point blank range, but Kate Pallante made a great save.

Buffalo broke through just a few minutes later as Carolyn Hinkle found Maddy Murphy on the right side who played a ball to Guerber and she one-timed a shot bar down to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead.

Guerber was at it again 10 minutes later as she forced a turnover and drilled a shot on target, but Pallante was there for the save.

UB then added to their lead in the 34th minute as Victoriano put her defender on skates, cut back across her body and drilled a shot into the top right corner of the net to give the Bulls a two-goal lead at the half.

The visitors got on the board early in the second half as Delaney Caldwell fired a shot on target and Lexie Thompson leapt up and got a piece of the ball, but it snuck below the crossbar to cut the UB lead to one.

The Bulls looked to add to their lead in the 55th minute as Murphy crossed a ball to Guerber who drilled a shot on target that sailed just high and out of play. Ten minutes later, Blatz settled a ball at the top of the box and rocketed a shot on net, but Pallante made the save, punching the ball out of play.

Ball State had one last scoring chance late in the game as Caldwell broke through and played a ball on goal, but Thompson was there for the save to preserve the UB victory.

Buffalo outshot Ball State 11-8 on the night, including a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal and a 4-2 edge in corner kick opportunities.

Miami 1, Eastern Michigan 0
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio— The Miami University soccer team posted a 1-0 win over Eastern Michigan during a Thursday home match, handing the visiting Eagles their first conference defeat. The RedHawks move to 5-5-0 (2-2-0 MAC) with the result in their first of two games this week. Eastern Michigan is now 4-5-0 (2-1-0 MAC).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Miami opened and closed the scoring in the 15th minute from the combination of a Katie O'Malley cross to Kayla Perfect off her left foot.
  • Dominique Popa made six saves and collected her fourth shutout of the season and the 16th of her career.
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NOTES
  • O'Malley tallied her third assist of conference play, the most in the MAC.
  • Perfect scored her second goal of the season and of her three-year career.
  • Popa moved into a tie for fourth on Miami's all-time list for shutouts, matching Krista Pace (2006-09) with 16.