Momentum is the key for a successful season. When a team is on a roll, the wins come easily. On the other hand, a lack of momentum can lead to a string of unsuccessful games and piling up of losses.
For the women's soccer team, a streak of seven winless games has them searching for the momentum they once had earlier this season.
Buffalo (4-5-2, 0-4 Mid-American Conference) lost at Miami (OH) 3-1 on Sunday afternoon, pushing the Bulls' winning percentage under .500 for the first time all season. They opened up the season with four straight victories.
The RedHawks (3-7-1, 2-2 MAC) were on the attack throughout the first half. They outshot the Bulls 11-3, but neither team was able to find the back of the net. Senior goalkeeper Amy Coron made four saves in the half, keeping the Bulls tied at 0-0.
The offense picked up for both teams after halftime. Miami got on the board first when Jackie Hardek beat Coron in the 55th minute. It would be the first of two goals Hardek scored on the day. The first goal of the game was her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
The Bulls were able to answer quickly thereafter. Sophomore midfielder Lindsey Bailey continued her successful season, beating Miami goaltender Krista Pace on a free kick in the 63rd minute to tie the game.
"[Lindsey] is a very dynamic player and she's a good striker of the ball," Buffalo head coach Michael Thomas said. "If you give her a chance, she's able to get points on the board. She's somebody that's quickly being known in the MAC as a player to be reckoned with."
Unfortunately for the Bulls, the momentum they gained from the Bailey goal did not last long. Hardek scored her second goal four minutes after Buffalo's goal, beating Coron again to help Miami regain the lead.
"It's hard to keep coming back," Thomas said. "You tie the game up only to be behind four minutes later, and it hurts."
The Bulls were unable to answer. They had eight shots after halftime, but Pace made four saves in the half to help the RedHawks keep the lead.
Jodi Zeingelberg sealed the game for the RedHawks when she took a pass from Krysti Clarke and scored in the 84th minute. It ended any chance the Bulls had of stopping their losing streak and picking up their first MAC win of the season.
Even though the Bulls had numerous scoring opportunities in the second half, Miami did a better job at converting their chances into points.
"The game was kind of a track meet. Both teams were getting chances," Thomas said. "The mistakes we made really caught up to us, and they were able to utilize their athleticism and speed in the second half."
The loss to Miami extends Buffalo losing streak to five and their winless streak to seven. With seven MAC games left in the season, Thomas knows there is a lot of time to capture some more victories.
"For the most part, we've played good soccer this season. Going into the Miami game, we were a .500 soccer team," he said. "The last five games the ball hasn't bounced our way, but we're preaching to get a little bit better every game, and we're confident good things are going to happen."
Thomas and his team hope returning back to UB Stadium will help bring the wins. They open up a four-game home stand this weekend against Eastern Michigan on Friday. Game time is 4:30 p.m.
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
