Carrying over the momentum gained in a victory against Marshall on Friday night, the Buffalo Bulls women's soccer team (7-5-1, 3-3-1 MAC) concluded their long and expansive weekend road trip by beating Ohio University 1-0 in Athens, Ohio on Sunday afternoon.
"Winning and playing the way we did against Marshall on Friday brought everyone's heads up going into Sunday's game," said sophomore defender Erica Mincher. "This year's MAC conference games are any team's win, so we knew if we pulled off a 2-0-0 record this weekend we were back in it for our goal this season."
Exceptional defensive play by both teams kept the game scoreless until the 82nd minute of the contest when Emily Russell broke through the Ohio defense, scoring her 11th goal of the season and fourth goal of the weekend. Russell's unassisted goal moved the senior forward into a seventh place all-time tie at UB for goals in a season. She also leads the MAC in goals and points (24).
"We knew we had to come together and play as a team again, as we did during the beginning of the season," said Mincher. "This weekend was the time to start."
Goalie Anna-Lesa Calvert earned her second shutout of the season, making seven saves in goal. The victory also marks the fourth time this season that the Bulls' defense has shut out their opponent.
"I think the main reason for the defense playing solid is the unity and communication from the center backs," said Mincher. "We are always there supporting each other behind the ball, so if one makes a mistake, a teammate is right there to help out.
Confidence in Calvert is also another strengthening aspect of the Bulls defense.
"We always know she can pull through for us if ever needed to make a big save," added Mincher.
UB will attempt to maintain their winning ways when they play host to Ball State at home at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
Bulls Back on Track with Victory Over Marshall
On Friday, October 3, the UB Bulls women's soccer team defeated the Marshall Thundering Herd (1-9-1, 1-5-0 MAC) by the score of 3-1 at Marshall's Sam Hood Field in a MAC contest.
In the game, Buffalo senior Emily Russell netted the game's first three goals, earning her a second hat trick on the season.
Russell scored her first goal, which was unassisted, in the forty-second minute of the game, giving Buffalo a 1-0 lead going into halftime. In the seventy-first minute, she tallied her second goal, assisted by which was followed up four minutes later to complete the hat trick and give the Bulls a 3-0 advantage.
It was her second hat trick of the season, as she extended her goal total for the season to ten goals, leading the Bulls.
The lone opposing goal was scored in the eighty-third minute by Marshall sophomore Jen Short.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
