The UB women's soccer team returned from a long road trip with a tie and a loss against two conference foes.
The Bulls (3-10-1 overall, 2-5-1 MAC) managed to come away with a 2-2 tie on Friday when they visited defending MAC Champion Western Michigan. On Sunday, the Bulls dropped a 2-1 battle to the Northern Illinois Huskies.
"I think that we have tried. I think we are young in mind and our decision making has hurt us," said UB head coach Jean Tassy. "I think we have asked our players to average three goals a game. When players don't do that, we can't meet our guidelines."
Natalia Crofut figured in on all of UB's goals on the weekend, accumulating two goals and one assist. With those points scored the junior has eclipsed the 10-point mark in all three of her seasons at Buffalo.
"Natalia means a lot to the team but she needs to convince herself of that," said Tassy. "I think at times she tries too hard. She is more effective when she is relaxed."
On Friday, the Western Michigan Broncos (8-4-2 overall, 4-3-2 MAC) attacked early and were ultimately rewarded in the 24th minute on a header goal by Katie Ruzinsky.
The Bulls were forced to respond quickly, a theme that has plagued the team as they have only scored first a total of four times this season. Eight minutes following the WMU goal, UB's Jennifer Moreira found the top corner of the net for her first goal of the season.
UB would take the lead just five minutes later when Crofut scored her fourth goal of the season. Crofut lead the team with five shots on the night.
The Bulls were not able to hold the lead as Western Michigan fired off 10 shots on goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert in the second half alone. Calvert has struggled this season. Last year through 14 games she had only given up 17 goals and at that point the Bulls were 7-6-1. This season she has given up 25 goals through 14 games.
"We have changed five or six systems. We have Brenna McJury out with an ACL. We lost Kristin Lawson," said Tassy. "When you have injuries and you have to adjust your defense, then your keeper needs to adjust to that also."
In the 80th minute, the Broncos' Kellie Nicholson scored the tying goal to send the game into overtime. Both teams however were unable to break the tie.
Sunday's game for the Bulls featured two teams in similar situations. Northern Illinois lost to the Bulls in Buffalo 4-0 last year. Seeking revenge this season, the Huskies (5-3-5 overall, 2-2-5 MAC) would get that chance when Christie Ehrhardt scored seven minutes into the game to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
Buffalo tallied nine shots in the first half and finally tied it up just before halftime. Crofut notched her team-leading fifth goal of the season in minute 42 of the game off an assist from Jenny Dannecker.
A NIU goal by Marissa Oriente on an assist from Ehrhardt with just under five minutes remaining would end any hope for a tie.
Buffalo will attempt to correct its losing record when the Bulls begin a five game home stand on Friday at 7 p.m. against Toledo at RAC Field.
