Bulls Blank Zips, 3-0, in MAC Opener

Thursday, September 22

Buffalo, NY

7:00pm

University at Buffalo

7-1-0, 1-0-0

Akron

1-4-2, 0-1-0

Akron

Buffalo

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Bulls Blank Zips, 3-0, in MAC Opener

9/22/2022 10:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's soccer team used a trio of second half goals to defeat Akron in the opening game of Mid-American Conference play on a blustery night at UB Stadium.

With their fifth straight shutout, the Bulls improve to 7-1 overall, matching the 2018 and 2011 squads for the best start of this century.

Offense was at a premium in the early going before the Bulls had their first good look in the 11^th minute as Ellie Simmons took the free kick and played a great ball into the box to the head of Hannah Callaghan, but the Zips defense knocked it away.

Later in the 36^th minute, Simmons had another free kick and played a good ball to Cashlin Copley on the right side of the box, and she ripped a shot from point blank range, but Penelope Cuirinier made a great save. The best scoring opportunity of the half came in the final minutes as Copley played a perfect ball through to Arianna Zumpano in front of the net, but she was unable to capitalize, and the game remained scoreless at the half.

The Bulls took advantage of the change in wind direction and came out strong to start the second half as Annie Judasz found Payton Robertson who played a ball through to Zumpano and she ripped a shot into the bottom left corner of the net in the 62^nd minute to give UB a 1-0 lead.

Judasz and Copley had a pair of great looks just a couple minutes later and both were turned away, but the aggressiveness paid off later in the 78^th minute as Olivia Bizzoni made a great run up field, settled, and slid a ball through to Copley who drilled a shot into the far corner of the net for her first goal in the blue and white to put UB up 2-0.

The Bulls added an insurance goal in the 86^th minute as Taylor Caridi found Kaya Schultz who fed Katie Krohn and she drilled a shot into the back of the net to seal the 3-0 victory.

The UB backline has not conceded a goal since August 28 at nationally ranked Rutgers. Fifth year goalkeeper Emily Kelly may have only had to make three saves on the night, but the one in the 78^th minute was extraordinary and pivotal. Senior Emily Lazenby was named Player of the Game by the UB coaches for her efforts in the shutout victory.

"It showed a lot of character and grit out of the group tonight," said head coach Shawn Burke. "The first half was tough dealing with the wind and you kind of throw tactics out the window at that point because after everything you prepped for, Mother Nature had other plans. They stayed patient and after that first great goal they pounced from there. Really dominant second half performance."

Buffalo returns to action on Sunday, September 25 as they travel to Athens, OH for a clash with the Ohio Bobcats. Kickoff at Chessa Field is set for 1pm.