WOMEN'S SOCCER

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Anna-Lesa Calvert

BUFFALO, NY - Stephanie Johnson's cross to the center of the field for Thalia Playford in the 12th minute led to Western Michigan's first goal as the team went on to a 2-0 win against the University at Buffalo women's soccer team in Mid-American Conference action on a rain-drenched afternoon at UB Stadium on Friday.

Buffalo (3-8-1 overall, 1-4 MAC) fell for the third straight conference game, making Sunday's 1:00 pm conference tilt with Northern Illinois a must-win at UB Stadium.

Playford's goal helped lift the Broncos (7-4-1 overall, 5-0 MAC) to their best-ever MAC start as the team has racked up six straight victories. Playford has been a major catalyst in the streak, as she has offered five goals in the team's first five conference games.

The second Western Michigan goal came in the 65th minute, when a UB player headed the ball in her own net off a Western Michigan corner to round out the scoring.

Buffalo (3-8-1 overall, 1-4 MAC) could not capitalize on any scoring opportunities despite taking three shots on goal in the first half and also taking three consecutive shots in the latter minutes of the first frame in which Western Michigan keeper Kate Perz was forced to make two saves.

Freshman Jenessa Banwell (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) took two of those shots on goal to lead the Buffalo offense.

Buffalo's Anna-Lesa Calvert (Dallas, TX/Bryan Adams) finished with nine saves to extend her MAC-leading total to 72 for the year. Perz had three saves, all in the first half before the Western Michigan defense stiffened to only allow three shots in the second half.