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FC Buffalo’s women celebrated a winning return to Robert Rich All-High Stadium on Saturday evening as Linda Ullmark’s hat trick and a Sylar Cornell double drove a dominant 5-0 home-opener win over derby rivals Erie Commodores.
The blue and gold took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter-hour via a link-up between Carissima Cutrona and forward Linda Ullmark. Cutrona assisted both of Ullmark’s goals in the first 15 minutes of play. Ullmark completed her hat trick late in the second half, while forward Skylar Cornell returned to the lineup and scored FCB’s third and fifth goals.
Ullmark scored the Wolves’ first goal in less than 45 seconds as Canadian midfielder Kasia Bak spotted Cutrona in the center of the park. Cutrona released a pinpoint through ball to Ullmark, who dashed down the right flank for a chipped finish from an acute angle.
Cutrona and Ullmark linked up again for FCB’s second goal in the 15th minute as Cutrona released another incisive through ball into Ullmark, who again zoomed in from the right flank and slotted the ball into the net to score her second goal on debut for the blue and gold.
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Defender Claire DeAngelis assisted Cornell’s first goal of the season to extend FCB’s lead to three by the 68th-minute mark, sending a diagonal ball from the right flank into Cornell. The Canisius University star made a run inside the box and comfortably slid the ball home with her left foot.
Eileen Solomon got the next helper as she progressed the ball into midfield and spotted Ullmark making another run past Erie’s defense. A composed Ullmark curled the ball into the right corner of the net for the 4-0 lead in the 79th minute.
Cornell later called as midfielder Sarah Woods’ ran down the right and tripped inside the box, but she played the ball from her back to Cornell, who controlled and finished with her left.
Cutrona leads the team in assists with two, while Ullmark’s hat trick today has her as the team’s top goalscorer.
Cornell and defender Tess Ford returned with the team after missing last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Steel City.
Both teams meet a week later as head coach Nikki Bartholomew’s squad ventures into Pennsylvania for a 7 p.m. Saturday kickoff at Mercyhurst University Saxon Stadium.
FC Buffalo’s men’s team returns to All-High Stadium as they have a crucial rematch with Fort Wayne for a 7 p.m. Wednesday kickoff. Single-game tickets are available here, while for a limited time, you can get a season ticket to all men’s and women’s regular season games for just $60.
[ RELATED: 2024 Women’s Stats ]
