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Thursday, March 4
Kent, OH
4:00 PM
at
Kent State
Women’s Soccer Opens Spring Championship Season at Kent State on Thursday
3/3/2021 10:02:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY – Coming off their sixth straight Mid-American Conference tournament appearance and third MAC semifinal appearance under head coach Shawn Burke, the University at Buffalo women's soccer team will open up their spring championship season on Thursday afternoon as they travel to Kent State to take on the Golden Flashes. First kick is set for 4pm inside Dix Stadium.
"We are excited and grateful to have the opportunity to compete this spring," said Burke. "We want to thank the Mid-American Conference and especially our training staff for making this a reality. It's been well over a year since these players have been able to compete and we look forward to the challenge ahead."
Due to COVID-19 protocols the conference will be using a divisional format this season, with the Bulls playing each MAC East team twice.
The Bulls were picked to finish second in the MAC East Division in the preseason coaches poll. Bowling Green was picked atop the poll as they earned 67 points and eight first place tallies followed by Buffalo with 61 points and three first place votes. Kent State took third place with 41 points and one first place vote. Ohio (39), Akron (24) and Miami (20) round out the East division. Ball State was picked to win the MAC West Division.
Buffalo returns 16 players from last season and will welcome six freshman and two transfers to a team that won nine matches a season ago.
The Buffalo offense will return four of their top five scorers from last season, led by senior Marcy Barberic who will look to improve on a solid junior season that saw her produce six goals and three assists for 15 points. Fellow Senior Kaitlyn Walsh will look to build on an impressive junior campaign for the Bulls after she posted five goals and an assist while juniors Hannah Callaghan and Katherine Camper will also be leaned on for production after they recorded 10 and eight points, respectively.
All-Freshman team selection Leah Wengender will look to build off an impressive rookie campaign in which she was a particular force on set pieces, netting two goals and added three assists on the year. Senior Gianna Yurchak will also look to create some offense for the Bulls this season after recording two goals and two assists last season.
The Bulls defense will be led by junior Tess Ford who helped anchor a successful backfield a season ago, while also contributing on set pieces as she recorded a goal and an assist. Junior Abbey Callaghan will also build off a solid sophomore campaign in which she appeared in 16 matches and earned 10 starts.
In net, the Bulls will be led by junior Emily Kelly who put together a solid sophomore campaign in which she recorded nine wins and five shutouts, while registering 87 saves and finishing with a 1.04 goals against average. Junior Sarah Bykowicz also returns after appearing in two games for UB during her sophomore season. Sophomore Erin Murphy will also look to split time between the pipes.
Buffalo will be leaning on a group of newcomers to make an immediate impact this spring, including Payton Robertson and Emily Lazenby who will look to be mainstays in the lineup after transferring from Memphis. Freshmen Olivia Bizzoni, Laura Bogner and Grace Kulniszewski will also look to play significant minutes for the UB.
The Bulls will stay on the road for a contest at Miami (OH) on Sunday, March 7, at 1pm.
For all the latest info on the UB women's soccer program, follow @UBWomensSoccer on twitter and visit UBBulls.com.
MAC Women's Soccer East Division Coaches Poll
1. Bowling Green – 67 points (8 first place votes)
2. Buffalo – 61 points (3)
3. Kent State – 41 points (1)
4. Ohio – 39 points
5. Akron – 24 points
6. Miami – 20 points
MAC Women's Soccer East Division Coaches Poll
1. Ball State – 64 points (6 first place votes)
2. Eastern Michigan – 58 points (4)
3. Western Michigan – 52 points (2)
4. Central Michigan – 39 points
5. Toledo – 26 points
6. Northern Illinois – 13 points
Predicted Champion: Bowling Green (7), Eastern Michigan (2), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1), Western Michigan (1)
"We are excited and grateful to have the opportunity to compete this spring," said Burke. "We want to thank the Mid-American Conference and especially our training staff for making this a reality. It's been well over a year since these players have been able to compete and we look forward to the challenge ahead."
Due to COVID-19 protocols the conference will be using a divisional format this season, with the Bulls playing each MAC East team twice.
The Bulls were picked to finish second in the MAC East Division in the preseason coaches poll. Bowling Green was picked atop the poll as they earned 67 points and eight first place tallies followed by Buffalo with 61 points and three first place votes. Kent State took third place with 41 points and one first place vote. Ohio (39), Akron (24) and Miami (20) round out the East division. Ball State was picked to win the MAC West Division.
Buffalo returns 16 players from last season and will welcome six freshman and two transfers to a team that won nine matches a season ago.
The Buffalo offense will return four of their top five scorers from last season, led by senior Marcy Barberic who will look to improve on a solid junior season that saw her produce six goals and three assists for 15 points. Fellow Senior Kaitlyn Walsh will look to build on an impressive junior campaign for the Bulls after she posted five goals and an assist while juniors Hannah Callaghan and Katherine Camper will also be leaned on for production after they recorded 10 and eight points, respectively.
All-Freshman team selection Leah Wengender will look to build off an impressive rookie campaign in which she was a particular force on set pieces, netting two goals and added three assists on the year. Senior Gianna Yurchak will also look to create some offense for the Bulls this season after recording two goals and two assists last season.
The Bulls defense will be led by junior Tess Ford who helped anchor a successful backfield a season ago, while also contributing on set pieces as she recorded a goal and an assist. Junior Abbey Callaghan will also build off a solid sophomore campaign in which she appeared in 16 matches and earned 10 starts.
In net, the Bulls will be led by junior Emily Kelly who put together a solid sophomore campaign in which she recorded nine wins and five shutouts, while registering 87 saves and finishing with a 1.04 goals against average. Junior Sarah Bykowicz also returns after appearing in two games for UB during her sophomore season. Sophomore Erin Murphy will also look to split time between the pipes.
Buffalo will be leaning on a group of newcomers to make an immediate impact this spring, including Payton Robertson and Emily Lazenby who will look to be mainstays in the lineup after transferring from Memphis. Freshmen Olivia Bizzoni, Laura Bogner and Grace Kulniszewski will also look to play significant minutes for the UB.
The Bulls will stay on the road for a contest at Miami (OH) on Sunday, March 7, at 1pm.
For all the latest info on the UB women's soccer program, follow @UBWomensSoccer on twitter and visit UBBulls.com.
MAC Women's Soccer East Division Coaches Poll
1. Bowling Green – 67 points (8 first place votes)
2. Buffalo – 61 points (3)
3. Kent State – 41 points (1)
4. Ohio – 39 points
5. Akron – 24 points
6. Miami – 20 points
MAC Women's Soccer East Division Coaches Poll
1. Ball State – 64 points (6 first place votes)
2. Eastern Michigan – 58 points (4)
3. Western Michigan – 52 points (2)
4. Central Michigan – 39 points
5. Toledo – 26 points
6. Northern Illinois – 13 points
Predicted Champion: Bowling Green (7), Eastern Michigan (2), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1), Western Michigan (1)
Players Mentioned
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GK
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F/M
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GK
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