Bulls Play to 1-1 Draw at Akron, Secure #4 Seed in MAC Tournament

Thursday, October 31

Akron, OH

3 pm

8-7-3, 5-4-2

Akron

8-9-2, 5-4-2

Buffalo

Akron

Bulls Play to 1-1 Draw at Akron, Secure #4 Seed in MAC Tournament

10/31/2019 6:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score 19 MAC WSOC Bracket

AKRON, OH – The University at Buffalo women's soccer team (8-7-3, 5-4-2 MAC) played to a 1-1 draw at Akron in rainy conditions on Thursday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium. With the draw, the Bulls clinched the No. 4 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament and will get a rematch with Akron as UB will host the fifth-seeded Zips at UB Stadium on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.

The rain would be a factor from the start as the Zips took a free kick from their own half of the field in the opening minute that sailed into the box off and off the head of a Bulls defender for a UB own goal to give the Zips a 1-0 lead just 37 seconds into the match.

The Zips had another good look in the 26^th minute as Aislinn Meany got free on the breakaway and ripped an open field strike but Emily Kelly made the stop from point blank range.

Buffalo had its best look of the half in the 32^nd minute as Marcy Barberic drilled a shot on net from just outside the box but Libby Harper leaped up to make the save and knock the ball out of play.

After a slow start to the second half for both teams, the Bulls had a close call in the 57^th minute as they scored on a corner kick but the goal was called back due to a UB foul.

Later, in the 68^th minute, Kaitlyn Walsh had a great look from the penalty kick line but Harper made a great diving save to her left to deny Walsh.

Buffalo would catch another bad break in the 76^th minute as the Bulls appeared to score on a free kick but UB was called offside and the goal was negated.

The Bulls would finally break through in the 84^th minute as Leah Wengender took the corner kick and played a perfect ball into the box that found the head of Jennifer Mandarano who flicked it past Harper to tie the game 1-1 and send the game to overtime.

The Bulls would have their first opportunity of extra time in the 92^nd minute as Adrianna VanCuyck took the free kick and drilled a ball on net that just sailed high over the crossbar. Buffalo would have one last chance in the 108^th minute as VanCuyck fired a ball on net that was saved by Harper where Barberic gathered the rebound but her shot sailed high and wide out of play.

The Bulls outshot the Zips 24-10 on the afternoon, including a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. With Mandarano's goal, Buffalo has now scored 30 goals off the feet of 15 players, the most of any team in the MAC. VanCuyck was named Player of the Match by the UB coaching staff for her efforts in the hard-fought draw.

"Conditions were really tough today and after giving up an own goal early, I thought the players responded well," said head coach Shawn Burke. "Even after having two goals called back, the players showed their resilience. This program expects to finish in the top four year in and year out and after three years on the outside, this group earned this home playoff game."

Sunday's contest will be the first time the Bulls have hosted a quarterfinal match since 2015, when UB defeated Central Michigan in penalty kicks to advance to the semifinals.