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Ohio Forward Scout Murray moves up field versus Oakland in a game on Sept. 15. [HG Biggs | WOUB Public Media]

Ohio Soccer drops pivotal road match against Buffalo, 2-0

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WOUB) — Ohio’s chance at hosting the MAC Tournament took a major blow with a loss on the road against Buffalo (10-1-5, 5-1-3 MAC). Ohio (9-3-4, 4-2-3 MAC) and Buffalo engaged in a tightly contested match where the winner would have sole control of second place in the MAC, one match back of Western Michigan. Ohio came out flat on the road, dropping the match, 2-0. 

The match started slow with neither team able to get very much going offensively. Buffalo got a pair of shots in the first couple minutes coming off fouls by Ohio. The Buffalo defense proved to be nearly impenetrable for Ohio in the first half as it got no shots or corners, only having a single offsides call. 

After the first half of play, the Bulls had accumulated six shots as compared to the zero for the Bobcats. 

Fortunately for the Bobcats, they kept the Bulls off the scoreboard with some good defense and timely goalkeeping. Goalkeeper Celeste Sloma made a pair of saves in the waning minutes of the first half, denying the Bulls from taking an early lead. 

The second half again started with Buffalo peppering the goal with shots, but to no avail. 

On the other side of the goalkeeping matchup, the MAC’s leader in most goalkeeping stats, Lexie Thompson, matched Sloma despite facing fewer chances. It was not until the 21st minute of the second half that Ohio was able to get its first shot on net as Eve Berish’s attempt was snared by Thompson. Ellie Greenwell sent in a shot that Thompson also stopped. 

Ohio Forward Jaimason Brooker shoots vs Oakland in a game on Sept. 15. [HG Biggs | WOUB Public Media]
At that point, the Bulls found a seam in the defense for the Bobcats, knifing through the pack of defenders. Jasmine Guerber hit a shot off a feed from Sarah Woods and got it past Sloma to put the Bulls ahead 1-0 at the 29:50 mark. Guerber’s goal was her fifth of the season. 

Ohio tried to get back at Buffalo as Jaimason Brooker sent in a shot that was ultimately saved. Buffalo responded to Ohio’s attack with a counter of its own. Arianna Zumpano finished off an attempt from Frederique St. Jean at 35:20 in the second half to put the match on ice. 

The 2-0 defeat is a major blow to Ohio’s attempt to capture the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament, but it remains firmly in the mix should either Western Michigan or Buffalo slip up in its last two of matches. Regardless, Ohio still has a very good chance of hosting at least one match in the MAC Tournament, which would be the quarterfinal. 

Despite the setback on the road, Ohio will return to Athens on Oct. 27 against Central Michigan at 1 p.m.