Ohio (9-3-4, 4-2-3 Mid-American Conference) traveled to Buffalo (10-1-5, 5-1-3 MAC) in a matchup with MAC tournament implications. Last year, Ohio beat Buffalo to clinch the final spot in the MAC tournament.
Both teams entered Thursday tied for second, trailing Western Michigan by one game.
As the first half progressed, it became evident that this would be a defensive game. It makes sense that it should be, as Buffalo and Ohio allow less goals than any other team in the conference. Neither team has allowed more than nine goals to be scored on them all season.
Although neither team dominated the first half, Buffalo definitely controlled the game. The Bulls kept the ball on Ohio’s side of the field for most of the first half, giving the Bobcats minimal scoring opportunities.
One of those chances was in the 21st minute, when Ohio had a breakthrough pass but was called offside. Shot-wise, Buffalo dominated Ohio, with six shots to Ohio’s zero. It seemed that Ohio could not find any space against a tough Buffalo defense.
At the start of the second half, things were the same as in the first. Buffalo was in control of the game, not allowing Ohio to get any momentum or chance of scoring. The 0-0 tie was almost broken in the 55th minute by Buffalo with a high shot down the middle of the net, but junior goalkeeper, Celeste Sloma, jumped up high and saved it, keeping the score tied.
At the 60th minute, Ohio still had not had a single shot, while Buffalo had ten shots by then, three of them being on goal.
In the 67th minute, Ohio would finally get its first shot and shot on goal. Junior midfielder Eve Berish took a long shot outside of the box and placed it high and in the middle, but Buffalo’s goalkeeper was there to stop it.
Buffalo finally broke the tie in the 75th minute with a cross into the box placed right in front of the goal for a score.
Buffalo wasn’t done after one goal. A pass that went nearly the length of the field set up Buffalo’s second goal for Arianna Zumpano.
With the win against Ohio, Buffalo moves into a great position for the quickly approaching MAC tournament.
Ohio would finish the game with fewer shots and shots on goals than Buffalo. This is the first time all season that the Bobcats have back-to-back losses.
