BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer team defeated Buffalo State University of New York by a final score of 3-1 at Coyer Field behind two goals from
Elise Papp to get their fourth 2-0 start to a season in the last five years. On the three goals, both assists came from
Ella James.
Game Recap
Despite the scoring of three combined goals in the first half, the match was scoreless for the first 27 minutes of play. Both teams only took three shots before Papp scored the first goal of the game for BW. It came right before the clock hit the 28th minute as she connected from the low center side of Bengal territory. It was her first goal of the season and James' first assist of the season.
Less than three minutes after the Yellow Jackets took the lead, Papp connected once again to extend the BW lead to 2-0 and James came in on the assist once again. It came from the same part of the Buffalo State field the first time around, from the low center side to achieve the team's first game of 2026 with multiple goals. They had only two of these games a season ago.
At the 41-minute mark of the first half, Buffalo State scored their first and only goal of the afternoon. From the high-right side of Yellow Jacket territory, the Brown and Gold held a 2-1 lead at the break. Both teams took a total of six shots during the first 45 minutes of play.
In a second half that saw the Yellow Jackets have complete control, they held the lead by one until
Kalyn Rich scored a goal at the 82nd minute to give the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 lead with
Sophie Kirsten coming in on the assist. It was Kirsten's first assist of the season and she had just one all of last year.
Goalkeeper
Kelly Carver had an impressive performance, recording six saves and just one goal allowed. Her first start of 2026, she started in all but one match a season ago. As a team, BW outperformed Buffalo State in shots taken (13-11), shots on goal (9-8), corner kicks (4-3), and saves (7-6).
The Matchup
The contest was just the second meeting between the Yellow Jackets and the Bengals since 2008. The series is now tied at one game apiece.
Looking Ahead
The Yellow Jackets are back in action tomorrow night, September 5 at the George Finnie Stadium for their first home game of the 2026 season. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
