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Cleveland St.
Bulls Open 2012 Season With Exhibition Win
8/12/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
CLEVELAND, OH - The 2012 women's soccer season kicked off Sunday afternoon, with the Bulls traveling to Cleveland for its lone exhibition game of the year, facing the Cleveland State Vikings. A goal in the 26th minute from junior Stephanie Velez was enough as the team held on for a 1-0 victory. In a physical warm-up match before this coming Friday's home and regular-season opener, the Bulls displayed its usual stout defense and found a wealth of offense from its bench to secure the win.
The Vikings tested the UB defense early with a shot on goal in the eighth minute, but Ainsley Wheldon made the save in what turned out to be her only save needed in her 29 minutes. She was then lifted for sophomore backup McKenzie White, who finished the game out and made three more saves to preserve the shutout.
The game-winning goal came from the Buffalo reserves, with Velez knocking home the lone goal off a cross from redshirt freshman N'Dea Johnson on the right wing in the 26th minute. After missing all of last season, Johnson had encouraging first appearance in the Blue and White and added two shots to go with her assist. Despite only playing three subs for the whole game, the Bulls got six of its 10 total shots from those three subs. Buffalo got two quality chances late in the first half, but shots on goal from Johnson and Megan Giesen were turned away.
Now heading back to campus to prepare for the start of the regular season, the Bulls will welcome in Colgate Friday evening to UB Stadium for the 2012 home opener. The game will kick off at 7 pm.
