Bulls Drop MAC Opener at Ohio, 2-1

Thursday, September 23

Athens, OH

4:00 PM

6-2-0, 0-1-0

Ohio

5-3-0, 1-0-0

Buffalo

Ohio

9/23/2021 6:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

ATHENS, OH – The University at Buffalo soccer team (6-2) fell 2-1 at Ohio on Thursday afternoon to open Mid-American Conference play. The loss snapped a six-game win streak and a four-game shutout streak.

The Bulls got on the board early off a set piece, as Abbey Callaghan took a corner kick and played a great ball into the box right to the head of Tess Ford who leaped up and flicked the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the season to give UB an early 1-0 lead.

Ohio answered just over a minute later as they took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Bulls and Madison Clayton capitalized to tie the game. It was the first goal conceded by Buffalo in about 400 minutes as they last gave up a goal on August 27 at Yale.

The Bobcats had a couple more scoring opportunities later in the half but Emily Kelly made a pair of saves. Buffalo had a few chances as well as Hannah Callaghan got off a pair of good shots but they sailed just off target and the game would remain tied at the half.

Ohio came out aggressive after the break with two good scoring opportunities in the opening five minutes of the second half but Kelly made two great saves to thwart the attack.

Marcy Barberic recorded the first shot of the second half for the Bulls in the 61^st minute as she ripped a shot on net but the Bobcats were able to clear the ball out of the box. Barberic had another great look in the 78^th minute as she fired a shot on net in stride on the fast break but Sam Wexell made a great diving save.

Ohio broke the tie in the 82^nd minute as Clayton played a ball into the box and Haley Miller got her head on it and flicked it past a diving Kelly to give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead and that would be all they would need to secure the victory as Ohio held the Bulls without a shot for the remainder of the game.

Kelly tied a season-high with five saves while Wexel had three stops for Ohio. Freshman Alya Ruken was named Player of the Game by the UB coaches for her efforts in the win.

"Every time we stp on the field we have to be prepared for everyone's best," said head coach Shawn Burke. "Ohio was better than us today and the result shows. We didn't do enough as a staff to put our players in the best position to be successful. We will learn and prepare better for Kent."

Buffalo returns to action on Sunday, September 26 as they welcome Kent State to UB Stadium at 12pm.