University of Toledo
DePaul
Toledo Falls at DePaul in Non-Conference Tilt, 3-1
9/5/2003 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CHICAGO, IL - DePaul's Julianne Sitch tallied a pair of goals to help lead the Blue Demons over Toledo, 3-1, in non-conference action on Friday afternoon.
Despite the setback, third-year Head Coach Brad Evans was pleased with how his young team played and is progressing as the start of the Mid-American Conference portion of their season approaches.
"I'm completely pleased with our team," Evans said. "Today was the best game we've played this year, particulary when we went forward and created scoring chances for ourselves. Right now we have to get better defending the counter-attack when we commit those numbers forward."
Toledo (0-3-0) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after senior Melissa Lesage scored her second goal of the season. Lesage lofted a shot from 20 yards over DePaul goalkeeper Lindsey Deason in the 11th minute for a 1-0 advantage. Sophomore Jessica Kluesener was credited with the assist.
Nearing the end of the first half, DePaul's Lauren Spacht found Sitch wide open in the front of the goal and she scored to tie the match at 35:13.
In the second half, the Blue Demons scored twice in a span of four minutes as Sitch took a pass from Lea Hill and beat Toledo redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jen Whipple for the eventual game-winner. Kiene scored the match's final goal at 55:48 on a 30-year shot on the right sideline to the left side of the net.
DePaul (2-1-0) outshot the Rockets, 13-9, while UT's goalkeepers Molly Patterson and Whipple were forced to make a combined four saves.
"Our kids played our hearts out," Evans said. "We're 0-3 but I'm happy with where we're at. We would like better results, but I'm pleased with our progression as we move toward the MAC season."
The Rockets will wrap up the weekend on the road this Sunday as they travel to to Hoosier State. Kickoff with the Crusaders is set for 1:00 p.m. in Valparaiso, IN.
DePaul 3, TOLEDO 1
UT: M. Lesage (Kluesener), 10:19
DP: J. Stich (Spacht), 35:13
DP: J. Stich (Hill), 51:52
DP: K. Kiene (Unassisted), 55:48
SHOTS: UT 9, DP 13
SAVES: UT 4, DP 1
CORNER KICKS: UT 1, DP 3
FOULS: UT 11, DP 14
