Velez Nets Two Goals as Bulls Blank Huskies

Coron records eight saves to earn second shutout of the season

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women’s soccer team shutout Northern Illinois, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon, giving the team its second win of the weekend. Freshman Stephanie Velez scored both Buffalo goals as the Bulls improve to 3-10-1 (2-3-1 MAC).

Stephanie Velez

Velez scored her first goal of the game at the 6:24 mark to give the Bulls an early lead. Capitalizing on a Northern Illinois foul, Angela Nicholas belted a free kick from about 30 yards out. Velez picked it up in front of the net, catching the NIU goalkeeper off guard to sneak in the goal. The remainder of the first half was evenly matched with UB taking the advantage in shots, 6-4. UB goalkeeper Amy Coron came up with a big save at the one-minute mark of the half to keep the Bulls up one at the halftime break.

The second half started much like the first, with Velez netting an early goal. Less than a minute into the half, Velez took a short pass from Aubrey Stahl and broke away from the NIU defense. Velez beat the goalkeeper to notch her second goal of the game and third of the weekend at the 46:08 mark of the match.

“I knew it was going to come sooner or later and our team really needed this,” said Velez, referring to UB’s two wins this weekend. “This weekend just proves that we’re not a bad team. Our results haven’t been showing how our team actually plays. It’s just a really great feeling to finally see some wins.”

Amy Coron

The Huskies had their chances, but were stopped short by the UB defense. Lauren Crawford blocked a shot from an NIU attacker that otherwise would have gone in to keep the Huskies scoreless. The backline of Jennifer Mihok, Nina Connell, Nicholas and Crawford helped Coron earn her second shutout of the season. Coron had eight saves in net and is now just eight saves away from breaking the all-time UB career record for most saves.

The Bulls will take a road trip next weekend, taking on Toledo on Friday, October 16 at 4:00 pm, followed by a match up at Bowling Green on Sunday, October 18 at 1:00 pm.