END ON A BAD NOTE: Flower City 1872 loses season finale at Buffalo

BUFFALO, NY – Flower City 1872 closed out its 2024 United Women’s Soccer season with a 3-1 loss to FC Buffalo Women at Robert E. Rich All High Stadium on Friday night.

After starting the campaign with a promising three-game winning streak, Flower City 1872 (3-4-1, 10 points) finished with a five-game winless streak (0-4-1). FC Buffalo (6-1-0, 18) took over the Iron Division lead by hosting Steel City (17) for the division title as they continue their quest to reach the playoffs.

FC Buffalo dominated the early game and opened the scoring through Gianna Tuzzolino who scored from a scrum in the penalty area past goalkeeper Sam Haley in the 10th minute.

The visitors’ best chance of the first half came on the half-hour mark when Niyah Rosado’s seemingly innocent shot bounced off the right post.

It didn’t take long in the second half for Flower City to equalize as a Sierra Edwards on the right flank set up Autumn Edwards’ goal over a diving goalkeeper Brigid Mulholland for a 1-1 tie in the 49th minute.

The hosts, however, took control of the game by scoring twice in the space of two minutes.

First, Dani Martinez took a quick shot from outside the box, with his left foot into the top right corner to break the tie in the 64th minute.

The hosts added another goal when Sarah Woods’ right-wing cross bounced off a Flower City player and into the net in the 66th minute for a 3-1 advantage.