Defensive Bulls Draw Even to Open Weekend Road Trip

October 6, 2011

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - Despite constant pressure from the Central Michigan attack, the Buffalo women's soccer team stood firm and played the defending conference champions to a scoreless draw Friday evening. Ainsley Wheldon made 10 saves to hold back a Chippewa offense that took 19 total shots to Buffalo's four.

"I couldn't be prouder of the girls, Central Michigan is a great team - one of the best teams in the conference today," said head coach Michael Thomas. "I thought our girls did a great job coming out and battling, and showing why they're 8-2-1 at this point in the season."

In a matchup of the two top defenses in the conference and the nation, there were few quality chances for either side, and the shots that Central managed were snuffed out by Wheldon, who grabbed her seventh solo shutout in the team's ninth shutout of the season, the second-most in the nation.

After holding off the Chips for the first 100 minutes, Buffalo proved its fitness in the final overtime period, just missing on three shots and earning a corner kick while keeping Central Michigan at bay. Shannon Fisher's shot went wide and Aubrey Stahl's two attempts in the second extra period went wide and high, with one shot just missing on a 1-on-1 attack. Wheldon made one last save in the 107th minute to earn the team's first tie of the season. The Bulls stamina will be tested now after playing its third overtime game out of the last four matches.

Next up for UB (8-2-1, 1-1-1 MAC) will be a trip south to Ypsilanti for a 1 pm game at Eastern Michigan. The Eagles (0-9-1, 0-3 MAC) were hard-luck losers on Friday, losing 2-1 to Kent State with two potential goals hitting the post. Live stats will be available through BuffaloBulls.com.

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