The next time the seniors of the women's soccer team visit UB Stadium, it will be to watch a game in support of their former team.
A day to honor the team's seniors didn't get in the way of playing a tough game all the way to the end of double overtime in order to tie the playoff-bound Kent State Golden Flashes (8-8-3 overall, 5-4-2 Mid-American Conference).
UB controlled the ball for the majority of the game, totaling six shots on goal. Kent State accumulated six shots on goal as well, but they also managed seven corner kicks while UB had none.
"We played really well as a team," said senior goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert. "The girls did a good job maintaining possession of the ball and implementing what we worked on in practice."
With six saves, Calvert got not only her second straight shutout, but also her second straight 100-save season, becoming the first player to achieve the feat in UB women's soccer history. As Calvert reflected on her final game as a Bull, she said that she has high hopes for the remaining members of the team.
"The team is going to do very well next year as they're going to be older, stronger, faster, and they're going to be very successful," Calvert said. "Our goal was obviously to win the MAC tournament and get a championship ring this year, but players got injured. Although it wasn't what we hoped for, the team is looking to build from it and get better for next year."
The fact that UB (5-11-2, 3-7-1 MAC) entered the game knowing it couldn't make the playoffs did not faze any of the women from the UB soccer team. However, the strategy may have changed a little bit according to head coach Jean Tassy.
"It was a day for the seniors," Tassy said. "We tried not to let the players get too emotional, just got out there and have some fun, and enjoy some of the things that we do normally."
Six seniors will hang up their blue-and-white jerseys this year, all of which have been a part of two UB postseason appearances. Each position will suffer a loss as defender Pamela Schneck, midfielder Lindsay Szafranski and forward Natalia Crofut will move aside to let new talent rise.
The position of team leader will also have to be filled next year as goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert, midfielder Erica Mincher, and midfielder Arielle Korczykowski will each step down from their captain roles, making room for new emerging stars.
"Of course we will miss them, but if we stay healthy and have a good incoming class, we can definitely be competitive next season," Tassy said. "It is important to remember that you really can't predict anything because this year we had some great freshmen, but injury killed us."
Very few of the women on the Buffalo soccer team didn't get to play this year. While it may have been slightly disorienting at times to not have a consistent starting core, Tassy believes that the shared playing time will carry over to next year.
"There are maybe three girls besides the injured girls that didn't get to play this season," Tassy said. "We can't look at all those girls who played as just support players. They were starters for us and now they have to step up and maintain that level of intensity to become better players for next year."
UB finished a tough season full of unexpected misfortune and plenty of emotion with a mere two divisional wins and out of the playoff race. Tassy emphasized one final thought above all others about the women of the Bulls soccer team.
"The players need to become students of the game in order to succeed," he said. "They must study the position and know what is required from it in order to become better players and ultimately a better team."
UB extended its streak of not losing a game on Senior Day to six straight years. They have gone 5-0-1 since 1999.
