Strong second half propels Women’s Soccer to 3-1 victory over Navy

Carissima Cutrona’s two-goal effort in the second half was the difference Sunday afternoon for UB Women’s Soccer against a Navy team that has shown it can play with top-flight opponents. The 3-1 victory was UB’s second of the season, bringing them to 2-2-2 on the year, but also their fourth straight result after an 0-2-0 start.

The most dynamic player on the field, Cutrona paced both teams with five shots, four of which found their target, and tallied her goals in the 73rd and 77th minute, both on crosses, from Nicole Gerritz and AJ VanCuyck.

UB outshot Navy 15-10 on the day, but needed a big improvement in the second half to take the win. Nine of their fifteen shots came after the break, a welcome change from a first half in which the Bull were even on shots, but fell behind on a goal from Navy’s Clare Macadam just nine minutes in and only equalized late in the half on a corner kick taken by Ashley Evans that found the head of Mairead Martin, the first career point for Evans and first goal for Martin, who has seen increased minutes the last few games and played 28 today in the midfield.

UB’s stream was not available in the first half—hopefully it discovers itself when the replay goes up—but the final 25 minutes or so of the second half were to our eyes the strongest stretch of soccer we’ve seen this season from the Bulls. UB was composed on the ball, consistently found lanes to advance the ball, and did not seem at all threatened by a Navy team that I think is much better than their record shows but tallied no shots in the final 32 minutes of gameplay.

Laura Dougall made six saves in the win, her first of the season.

Buffalo remains at home this week for a Friday match against Canisius, their only game of the weekend. The Golden Griffins are 2-3-0 and riding a two-game winning streak against Robert Morris and St. Bonaventure.