Bulls Battle to 2-2 Draw at Ball State on Sunday

Sunday, October 23

Muncie, IN

1:00pm

Ball State

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Bulls Battle to 2-2 Draw at Ball State on Sunday

10/23/2022 3:42:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MUNCIE, IN – The University at Buffalo women's soccer team (12-1-4, 6-0-4 MAC) battled to a 2-2 draw with Ball State in a physical game between the top two teams in the league at the Briner Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.

With the draw, the Bulls extended their unbeaten streak to 14 games, which ties the 2014 squad for the longest in program history. UB remains in first place as they maintain a three-point lead over Ball State with one game to go in the regular season.

It was a physical and back-and-forth affair in the early going with neither team recording a shot until the 18^th minute when the Cardinals capitalized on their first corner kick of the game as Lexi

Fraley played a ball into the box and Emily Roper knocked it past a leaping Emily Kelly to give Ball State a 1-0 lead.

Buffalo had their first scoring opportunity of the game as Jasmine Guerber ripped a shot on net, but Bethany Moser made a diving save to knock the ball out of play.

Fraley had another look in the 26^th minute as she broke free up the sideline and fired a shot on net in stride, but Kelly was there to make the save. Freshman Katie Krohn had a scoring chance in the 33^rd minute but the shot attempt sailed wide of target. Fraley answered with a shot on goal of her own less than a minute later, but Kelly was there to scoop it up.

The Bulls broke through in the 38^th minute as Guerber broke free and played a perfect ball across the box right to the head of Annie Judasz, who had just entered the game seconds before, and she flicked the ball into the back of the net to tie the game at one and that would be the score at the half.

Buffalo continued to attack out of the break as Leah Wengender made a great run in the 48^th minute and drilled a shot on net but Moser made the save and later, Payton Robertson had a look from the top of the box that just sailed wide left.

Wengender continued to create, and it paid off in the 50^th minute as she played a perfect ball into the box and Guerber leaped up and flicked it into the back left corner of the net to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead.

The Cardinals had a pair of shots from just inside the box in the 75^th minute and Kelly made two good stops, but the Cardinals continued to attack, and it paid off a few minutes later as Abby Elgert lofted a ball into the box that drew Kelly out and found the feet of Delaney Caldwell who flicked it over her head for a goal to tie the game at two.

UB looked to answer as Wengender and Robertson fired a pair of shots but both were turned away by Moser and the Cardinals defense. Later, Ellie Simmons took a free kick in the 85^th minute but Moser made another save and the game ended in a draw.

The Bulls outshot the Cardinals 16-6, including a 9-6 edge in shots on goal, while also maintaining a major 9-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Kelly made three saves on the afternoon while Moser made seven stops for Ball State. Guerber was named Player of the Game by the UB coaching staff.

"We were really good today and not getting the full three points is disappointing," said head coach Shawn Burke. "You have to give credit to Josh and Ball State for never giving up. There is a reason they are so high up in the standings. Ultimately if we want to achieve our goals, we have to beat teams in the top six."

Buffalo closes out the regular season on Thursday, October 27 at 3pm. The Bulls can clinch the regular season title and home field advantage for the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a win or tie against the Golden Flashes.