If the women's soccer team wants to build on their strong start to the season and make the Mid-American Conference tournament they will have to play better than they did on their road trip to Michigan this weekend.
Buffalo (5-3-1, 1-2-1 MAC) dropped a decision on Friday, losing 3-0 to Central Michigan (2-3-2, 1-2-1 MAC). On Sunday the Bulls traveled to Eastern Michigan (3-3-2, 2-0-1 MAC) and came out with a 1-1 tie against one of the MAC's top teams.
In the game versus Central Michigan, the Bulls fell behind quickly, as the Chippewas scored 17 seconds into the game.
"It hurt us a lot as a team to fall behind that early," said UB forward Natalia Crofut. "Our passion just died. One goal is a big deal in soccer."
Central Michigan found the net two more times, with all three goals coming within the first 28 minutes.
The Bulls nearly doubled Central Michigan in shots, out shooting the Chippewas, 21-11. However Central Michigan goalkeeper Anne Decker had 12 saves in route to the shutout. Crofut led the Bulls with four shots. Emily Russell and Jenny Dannecker each had three shots.
On Sunday the Bulls battled Eastern Michigan to a hard fought 1-1 draw. Crofut got the Bulls on the board in the 22nd minute when she notched her fifth goal of the season.
As a sophomore, Crofut is picking up where she left off last year as the team's top goal scorer. Only a couple of games into this season, she has already tied her goal total from last year. She is confident that she can put plenty more shots behind opposing goalkeepers this season.
"I would say that both (getting shots and setting up teammates) are important aspects of my game," Crofut said. "I love playing with Nikki (Olszewski) and Emily (Russell) but I am going to miss them next year because they are both seniors."
The Bulls played well defensively but their one goal lead was erased when Eastern Michigan put a shot past Bulls' goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert in the 68th minute.
"We did a good job defending our lead but the rest of the game was one mad scramble and after a while we need our offense to try to add on to the lead," said Crofut.
The game went through two overtime periods but that resolved nothing. Both goalkeepers were solid, each recording four saves.
On Friday Buffalo will look to get back on track in a non- conference game at 7 p.m. at Canisius. The Bulls hold an eight game winning streak versus the Griffs. On Sunday, Buffalo hosts MAC opponent Akron at noon at RAC field.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
