WOMEN'S SOCCER

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Erica Mincher

ORLANDO, FL - Two goals in the first six minutes from SoccerBuzz.com's 27th-ranked Central Florida was enough to skim past the University at Buffalo's women's soccer team, 2-1, on Labor Day afternoon in the final round of the Central Florida Fall Invitational.

The Golden Knights (2-2 overall) came out firing early after falling 2-0 to Ole Miss on Saturday night, as Hanna Wilde found Roberta Pelarigo on a cross three minutes into the match to take a quick lead. Three minutes later, Kate McCain found Jessica Newport for a goal on the right side, digging the Bulls (1-2-1 overall) an early hole.

Central Florida controlled possession for much of the half, as Buffalo took only one shot in the period to seven Central Florida shots.

The Bulls fought back in the second half, however, taking six shots to the Golden Knights' seven. Senior Natalia Crofut (East Aurora, NY/Iroquois) hit the crossbar in the 58th minute, just missing narrowing the Golden Knights' lead to one.

Senior tri-captain Erica Mincher (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa), starting her team-high 23rd consecutive game, got the Bulls on the scoreboard by dribbling out of a scuffle and scoring in the lower right corner with 58 seconds remaining.

The defense also tightened in the second half, as senior Anna-Lesa Calvert (Dallas, TX/Bryan Adams) stopped four shots in the frame to shut down the Conference USA power. Calvert stopped seven shots overall.

Central Florida keeper Jennifer Manis stopped two shots in the win.

Jessica Roesch

Crofut and junior defender Jessica Roesch (Centennial, CO/Grandview) earned All-Tournament team honors, their second such honor of the year after each being named to the Army BAE Systems Fall Classic team last weekend.

Buffalo will tune up for Mid-American Conference play in two weekends by playing three New York rivals in the next two weeks, starting at Route 5 rival Canisius on Friday at 7:00 pm before travelling to Ithaca to face the Ivy League's Cornell on Sunday at 12:00 pm. On Friday, Sept. 16, Buffalo finally opens its home slate by facing Big 4 rival Niagara at 7:00 pm at UB Stadium.