Late Rally Comes Up Short as Eagles Fall to Bulls

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team began a three-game homestand against Mid-American Conference foe, University at Buffalo Friday, Sept. 29. The Eagles (3-8-1, 0-3-0 MAC) were handed a 2-1 setback after an 81st minute strike by Bulls (4-5-1, 2-1-0 MAC).

In between the posts, junior Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka) made five saves for the day off seven shots-on-goal. Williams hit registered the 200th save of her career after stopping a Bulls shot at the 88-minute mark. The Kansas City, Mo. native is just the seventh player, and first since Megan McCabe, to eclipse the 200-save mark in program history.

Maintaining possession for a majority of the game, Eastern fired off 20 shots but only seven were on goal. Freshman Madeline Olson (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) totaled nine shots, four on goal, and notched the Eagles lone goal in the 76^th minute mark. Sophomore Maggie McCullough (London, Ontario-Oakridge Secondary) added to the shot count with three.

After five minutes of play, Buffalo quickly got itself on the board after a shot from 30 yards out found the right corner of the net, taking an early 1-nil lead.

In attempt to equalize the score, the Eagles maintained possession for a majority of the half. The Green and White had several close chances but were not able to capitalize on its 10 shots. Five minutes after the Bulls goal, redshirt junior Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson) fired the ball from about 18 yards out but was met by the hands of the keeper.

Olson, who contributed half of EMU's shots in the first 45 minutes, created a handful of scoring opportunities. While finding open teammates for shots, she also ripped three consecutive shots within minutes that either went high or were saved as the Green and White went into halftime trailing by one.

The Eagles continued to put pressure on the Bulls defense in at the start of the second stanza. Freshman Alia Frederick (Linden, Mich.-Linden) and Olson both registered shots within the first three minutes of the final half, but could not convert.

As the clocked ticked closer to zero, the Green and White ramped up its shot count. Freshman Marla Cobetto (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) got her foot on the ball and found Olson open in front of the goal, passing it to Olson, who buried a shot I. The back of the net.

Eastern' offense kept rolling, as junior Peyton Davis (North Ridgeville, Ohio-Holy Name) drilled the ball from outside of the box, but the Bulls came up with the save before junior Mia Colavito (Mississauga, Ontario-Loyola Catholic Academy) out a shot high of goal. UB recovered, moving the back up field quickly and slotting a shot past the reach of Williams to take a 2-1 lead in the 81st minute.

The Green and White rallied in the last few minutes, firing off shot after shot, but could not come up with the equalizer, eventually falling, 2-1.

Eastern Michigan return to the pitch when it takes on the University of Akron, Sunday, Oct. 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Scicluna Field.

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Team Stats

Madeline Olson

Marla Cobetto

Maggie McCullough

Mia Colavito

Players Mentioned

Marla Cobetto

Mia Colavito

Peyton Davis

Alia Frederick

Kristin Hullibarger

Maggie McCullough

Madeline Olson

Kaylin Williams

Players Mentioned

Marla Cobetto

Mia Colavito

Peyton Davis

Alia Frederick

Kristin Hullibarger

Maggie McCullough

Madeline Olson

Kaylin Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics