Women's soccer looks to stay undefeated in MAC

Last season, the women’s soccer team won six games and finished with the fourth worst record in the Mid-American Conference.

This season, the team won its first six games before the end of September and has the best record in the MAC through four conferences games.

Buffalo also received its highest-ever NCAA Rating Percentage Index (RPI) in program history this week.

The No. 56 Bulls’ (8-2-1, 4-0 MAC) perfect MAC record will be tested against the top-two teams in the MAC West, Northern Illinois (5-6-1, 3-0-1 MAC) and Western Michigan (8-4, 2-2 MAC), this weekend. Buffalo takes on the Huskies on the road Friday before hosting the Broncos Sunday.

“We’ve got to leave everything on the field,” said first-year head coach Shawn Burke. “We’ve got the capabilities to win every game and with the way we’re performing I think we can compete with everybody. This weekend is no different. We go out there and we’ll play our game to get the wins.”

Burke served as an assistant coach under former head coach Michael Thomas for five seasons. After taking over for Thomas, Burke’s main focus has been to continue to build the team around a solid defense.

Buffalo is tied for 17th in the country in shutout percentage, with seven shutouts in 11 games. Only 31 Division I teams have allowed fewer goals than the Bulls, and the team ranks 36th in the country in save percentage.

Burke said the defense has performed well on both offensive and defensive set pieces and have kept the pressure off freshman goalkeeper Laura Dougall.

“[The defense’s] ball winning has been phenomenal and they really take the pressure off of Laura and let her play her game,” Burke said.

Dougall heads into the weekend with seven shutouts in her first 10 career games and has allowed just four goas on 46 shots.

Burke has been impressed by the true freshman’s poise.

“I think sometimes you’re surprised when an 18-year old freshman has the maturity to know the game,” Burke said. “What’s most impressive to me is when there have been times where she hasn’t had to do much and act upon a moments notice to make the save.”

Defenders Jackie Hall and Sophie Therien are two of the players who have kept the pressure off of Dougall. Burke called the duo Buffalo’s best center back paring in his time at Buffalo.

Hall, a junior, won MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8. Both Hall and Therien, a senior, have contributed on offense, too, as they have both taken seven shots and registered a point this season.

Buffalo’s offense has improved this season – its scored 16 goals through 11 games after scoring just 14 all of last season – but Burke has put an emphasis on improving the offense in order to aid the Bulls’ steady defense.

Despite a slow start to the season the offense has seemed to improve in that area lately. The Bulls scored five goals in two victories this weekend.

Burke wants the offense to put more pressure on the opposing teams’ nets.

“The girls have been strong defensively and I hope our offense continues to follow suit and keep putting in goals,” Burke said. “We have people in the box and we create chances. You can see their confidence growing especially with the emergence of Kate Roberts.”

Senior forward Katie Roberts enters this weekend with a team-leading seven goals – three coming in previous two games. After scoring one goal in the Bulls’ first six games, Roberts has scored six goals in the past five. Roberts not only leads the Bulls in scoring, but the MAC as well.

Burke said Roberts is not only helping the team in finishing with goals, but also with setting up her teammates and improving the team’s possession numbers.

“She’s playing at an unbelievably high level right now,” Burke said. “She playing like a contender for MAC Player of the Year and has really turned the team’s offense around.”

Despite last season’s 6-9-3 record, Burke said he knew the Bulls had the potential to compete this season.

“I knew the girls had the potential to be successful and to compete for a MAC championship and [it’s been] quite an impressive start, especially with our season starting undefeated in the conference,” Burke said.

The Bulls look to remain undefeated in MAC play when they travel to Northern Illinois Friday for an 8 p.m. game. Buffalo returns home to host Western Michigan at UB Stadium. The game is set for noon.

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