Balanced Attack Leads Bulls to 3-0 Win Over Northern Illinois

Sunday, September 29

Buffalo, NY

1:00pm

8-1-2, 3-1-0

Northern Illinois

6-3-3, 0-2-2

NIU

Buffalo

Balanced Attack Leads Bulls to 3-0 Win Over Northern Illinois

9/29/2024 4:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY – Senior forward Arianna Zumpano netted a pair of goals to lead the University at Buffalo women's soccer team (8-1-2, 3-1-0 MAC) to a 3-0 win over Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at UB Stadium.

Today's result was the third shutout in league action and seventh overall for the Bulls this season.

It was a back-and-forth affair in the early going with neither team maintaining possession before the Bulls started to attack and were able to strike first as Kaya Schultz swung the ball across to Ellie Simmons who then played a perfect pass into space that found Jasmine Guerber and she lobbed a shot over the head of the onrushing Ary Purifoy to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead.

Buffalo continued to press in the 20^th minute as they drew a foul just outside the box and Kaylin Ricci delivered a great strike on the ensuing free kick, threading the needle, but Purifoy made a great diving save.

The Huskies turned the tide towards the end of the half and went on their own attack as Tyra King got behind the UB backline and drilled a shot from point blank range, but Lexie Thompson made a great save. A minute later, on an NIU corner kick, Thompson made another stellar play, knocking the ball out of play and then on the following corner kick, Lea Gruennagel played a great ball that curled on target, but Thompson was there once again, making another fantastic leaping save to keep the Huskies off the board.

The Bulls would then add to their lead in the 40^th minute as Laiken Kiser and Schultz connected in the midfield and Schultz delivered another perfect pass, this time to a streaking Zumpano who fired a shot across the box into the bottom left corner of the net to put UB up 2-0 at the half.

Northern Illinois came out aggressive to start the second half as they had a breakaway opportunity in the 53^rd minute but Maya Galko made a fantastic tackle to stop the attack. Later, in the 58^th minute, King broke free down the right side and ripped a shot on goal but Thompson made another leaping save.

Buffalo continued to attack in the 73^rd minute as Kiser won a pair of challenges and poked a ball into space for Zumpano who tracked it down and fired a shot back post for her second goal of the day to put UB up 3-0 and that would be more than enough to secure the victory.

UB and NIU were nearly even on the day in total shots, shots on goal and corner kick opportunities. Thompson was one shy of her career-high with eight saves in her seventh shutout of the season while Purifoy made four stops for the Huskies. Zumpano and Galko were named Co-Players of the Game by the UB coaching staff.

"Really proud that it was a collective effort today," said head coach Shawn Burke. "There were so many players that stepped up, our whole backline being asked to do more, Lexie another clean sheet, but it was a team effort. We challenged them a little bit because we didn't show up in our biggest moment so far against Western. We showed up today with a point to prove to ourselves and I thought the team did a great job doing that."

Up next, the Bulls will have a week off before resuming league action on Sunday, October 6 at Ball State.

For the latest updates and behind the scenes look at the Buffalo women's soccer program, make sure to follow them on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @UBWomensSoccer.