Win and in

After nearly a month on the road, the women's soccer team will get to finish up the season in familiar territory.

The Bulls (4-10-1, 2-5-1 Mid-American Conference) wrapped up a four-game MAC road trip with two games this weekend. They overtook Bowling Green (1-13-1, 0-6-1 MAC) in a come-from behind 2-1 victory on Friday, but couldn't extend their winning streak to a season-high three games and struggled in a 3-0 loss to MAC West leaders Central Michigan (11-4-1, 7-1-0 MAC) while battling awful playing conditions on Sunday.

In a stretch where it played six of eight games on the road, Buffalo was able to pick up enough points to control its own destiny. The Bulls look to advance to postseason play by continuing their strong play as they move toward their final three games - all of which will be at UB Stadium.

"We've been on the road for the past month and it's been a rough stretch, but we came out with enough points that we are very much alive to qualify for the tournament again," said head coach Michael Thomas. "We have to come in with a mentality to be good at home and good things will happen."

Bowling Green had struggled all year coming into Friday's match, with the Falcons' only victory of the season coming Aug. 26. Buffalo started off aggressive, but it was the Falcons who struck first.

Bowling Green midfielder Madeline Wideman scored the first goal of the game in the 14th minute. Although the Bulls looked better on the field, they found themselves down 1-0 at the half, despite outshooting Bowling Green 8-5 with four shots on goal.

"We had a couple of chances before [the Falcons' goal] that we weren't able to put away," Thomas said "I was really proud of the girls for not letting that faze them and to continue to attack and score a couple of good goals late."

The Buffalo stampede on the Bowling Green defense continued into the second half. Buffalo's underclassmen were able to capitalize. Sophomore defender Sophie Therien put a corner kick into the box, where it was played by sophomore forward Megan Giesen and drilled into the back of the net by freshman midfielder Kristin Markiewicz - tying the game at one.

The Bulls' offensive dominance continued. Senior forward Katie Kerr fired a shot off the post in the 73rd minute. Undeterred, Kerr took another shot in the 80th minute, which was blocked, but the ball moved toward Giesen. She was able to immediately find senior forward Taylor Thompson, who sealed the win for Buffalo with her second goal of the season.

The Bulls were unable to extend their winning streak when they traveled to Mount Pleasant, Mich. on Sunday afternoon. They took on a red hot Central Michigan team, which had won six of its last seven.

It was a game in which the weather conditions hampered the Bulls. Thomas even called the precipitation "the most rain I have ever seen during a soccer game."

"The rain had a massive impact on the game in the fact that both teams had to really adjust and I think Central [Michigan] did a better job of adjusting to the conditions," Thomas said. "Both teams had to play a very different game than they are accustomed to."

The Chippewas were able to adjust; they scored three second half goals. Forward Laura Gosse fired two shots within the first two minutes of the half, which resulted in two of junior goalkeeper Ainsley Wheldon's five saves. Buffalo was outshot 23-2, with none of the squad's shots challenging the Chippewas. In the 56th minute, a battle for a loose ball that emerged in front of Wheldon resulted in the first goal. Buffalo was unable to get the ball out of its zone and midfielder Autumn Hawkins snuck by Buffalo's defense to give the Chippewas the 1-0 lead.

Following the goal, the Bulls found themselves spending most of their time on the defensive end. The Bulls were able to force the Chippewas into difficult shots, but the attack continued. In the 71st minute, forward Danielle Rotheram extended Central Michigan's lead. A ball was played into the box and landed in a puddle of mud in front on the net.

Before Wheldon was able to get to it, Rotheram jumped on top of it and scored. Wheldon was shaken up on the play and replaced by freshman Sarah Moore, who allowed one goal and made one save. Thomas said there was no indication of a broken bone, but Wheldon's status for Friday is uncertain.

Despite the loss Sunday, the Bulls gained three much-needed points as the race to the MAC tournament heats up. Buffalo is currently tied for the eighth and final spot.

"The MAC's a very tough place to get points, especially on the road," Thomas said. "Those three points keep our destiny in our own hands. Now we have to go back and be good at home and capitalize on it."

The Bulls return home for their final three matches of the year as they aim to clinch a playoff spot for the second-straight season. The Bulls return to action Friday vs. Eastern Michigan (8-6-1, 5-3 MAC). Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at UB Stadium.

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