Buffalo Women’s Soccer runs away from Canisius in second half in 3-0 win

Nicole Gerritz was a terror all night, and Carissima Cutrona potted her team-leading sixth goal of the season early in the second half for the game-winner in UB Women’s Soccer 3-0 win over crosstown rival Canisius at UB Stadium Friday night.

UB hasn’t allowed a goal in the series since 2010, and had little trouble maintaining the clean sheet tonight. Canisius occasionally looked to have a dangerous counterattack brewing only for the Buffalo defense to recover and prevent even a shot on goal. Laura Dougall needed to make only a single in the shutout, and Andrea Niper and Julia Benati put it out of reach with a thundering header and curling free kick, respectively with ten minutes remaining.

Cutrona earned the winner and has now scored all six of her goals in the last five games, and Niper’s goal was loud and sudden, but it was Gerritz who time and time again made things happen, driving down the wing and creating crosses that for the first half never quite connected even as UB tilted the field severely in their favor. She was rewarded with the assist on Cutrona’s marker, and though it won’t find its way to the scorebook, earned the corner that became Niper’s goal.

Benati’s goal was her second of the season, Niper’s her first as the two combined for five shots on goal. UB in total managed 20 shots to Canisius’ 4 and generally controlled play the entire night. With no match on the schedule against Niagara, Buffalo will finish the year 2-0-0 with a 6-1 aggregate against Big Four rivals.

UB now sits 3-2-2 and has the rest of the weekend before traveling to Syracuse next Thursday, looking to build on a 1-0 win over the Orange last fall.