TOLEDO, Ohio – The University at Buffalo women’s soccer team (12-3-2, 8-2-1 MAC) scored two goals in the final five minutes of play to secure a big 3-1 road victory over Toledo at Paul Hotmer Field on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Bulls remain in second place in the Mid-American Conference standings and will have a chance to play for the regular season title on Wednesday against Western Michigan. It would be the third regular season title in program history with the previous two coming in 2014 and 2022.
Sophomore Carolyn Hinkle scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute for her first goal of the season while freshman Maddy Murphy recorded her first career goal a few minutes later. Graduate student forward Jasmine Guerber rounded out the scoring for UB, tallying her seventh goal of the season in the first half.
The Bulls had their first scoring chance of the game in the 26th minute as Carolyn Hinkle got a shot off and then Adriana Victoriano tracked down the rebound, got into the box and fired a shot that sailed just wide of target.
Buffalo would get on the board two minutes later as Maya Ikewood won a tackle and played a beautiful ball through to Guerber who beat Toledo’s goalkeeper Paige Dornheggen and drilled a shot into the bottom left corner of the net to give UB a 1-0 lead and that would be the score at the half.
The hosts evened the game in the 55th minute as the Bulls were called for a foul in the box and the Rockets converted on the ensuing penalty kick goal.
After managing just two shot attempts over 40 minutes in the second half, the UB offense exploded as Ashley Reyes slid a pass across the field to Hinkle who settled and drilled a shot into the bottom right corner to give the Bulls the lead.
Less than three minutes later, Murphy took advantage of a defensive miscue from the Rockets and beat a charging Dornheggen, before firing a shot in stride into the back of net for an insurance goal to secure the victory.
The Bulls outshot the Rockets 12-9 on the afternoon, including a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. Junior Lexie Thompson made two saves in the win.
“This team keeps finding a way,” said head coach Shawn Burke. “Even when we lost control in the second half, they found a way. What I like most about our team is that individuals are stepping up when it hasn’t always been their number. Good team win today and now we have a chance to play for a regular season title.”
Up next, Buffalo will close out the regular season on Wednesday, October 29 as they host Western Michigan at UB Stadium at 3pm.
For all the latest on UB women’s soccer, follow @UBWomensSoccer on Twitter/X and Instagram and like the UB Women’s Soccer Facebook page.
Courtesy of University at Buffalo.
