Final Stats

Toledo, OH - The University of Toledo women's soccer team used a brilliant defensive game plan Friday afternoon against the MAC preseason favorite Eastern Michigan Eagles. The Rockets played with eight, sometimes nine players behind the ball stymeing the Eagles offense in the conference openers for both squads. In the end, UT was able to muster enough offense to claim a 2-1 victory over the Great Lakes Regions No. 10 rated team, before 107 fans at the Soccer Field at Scott Park in Toledo, OH. With the win, Toledo improves to 2-1 overall (1-0 MAC), while Eastern Michigan falls to 2-1 (0-1 MAC).

"This is a big win for our program," first-year head coach Brad Evans said. "Eastern Michigan is an excellent team. All we tried to do today was keep the game in front of us at all times. And I thought we did a pretty good job at that."

Despite being outshot 24-6, many of the Eagles shot were fired well off the mark. The Rockets made it hard for EMU to get good looks at the goal with so many bodies surrounding the goal.

Eastern Michigan broke through first at 55:50 of the second half on a fine dribbling and finishing display by Courtney Sindelar. Upon receiving a pass from just inside midfield, Sindelar made her way through the Rocket defense and fired a perfect shot by a diving Toledo goalkeeper Elise Donovan.

Toledo knotted the score at 1-1 on sophomore Melissa Lesage's second tally of the season at 62:33. Off a free kick from junior defender Alissa DeLong, Lesage was able to get a foot on the loose ball in the box and knock home the game-tieing goal.

The Rockets scored the game-winner at 83:45 on a beautiful half-volley by junior scoring machine Corrie Hasenjager. Off a corner kick from DeLong, Hasenjager rifled the volley shot out of the air past a stunned EMU keeper for her third goal in as many games.

"In the second half, I thought we came out with more aggression and played with a little more intensity," Evans said. "We were able to take advantage of some set plays in close and come away with the win."

Toledo received another tremendous effort from its goalkeeper Donovan. The junior from St. George, UT came up huge all afternoon making 10 saves, including three diving stops.

The Rockets will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 9, as they will make a short trip south to Bowling Green for a tilt against the arch-rival Falcons. Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Cochrane Field.

FINAL SCORE
TOLEDO 2, Eastern Michigan 1
EMU: C. Sindelar (unassisted), 55:50
UT: M. Lesage (A. DeLong), 62:33
UT: C. Hasenjager (A. DeLong), 83:45

Shots: UT 6, EMU 24
Saves: UT 10, EMU 2
Corner Kicks: UT 1, EMU 5
Fouls: UT 10, EMU 11