Final Stats

TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo women's soccer team, on the strength of two second-half goals, posted a 3-0 victory over Buffalo this afternoon in Mid-American Conference action at Scott Park.

With their third-consecutive victory, the Rockets improved to 9-5-0 overall and 4-3-0 in MAC play, and more importantly pick up three points in the race for a MAC Tournament berth. UT's nine wins are tied for the second most in school history and trail only its 10 victories set the 1996 campaign. The visiting Bulls fell to 4-9-1 overall and 2-5-0 in the league.

"I'm happy for our players," Toledo Head Coach Brad Evans said. "It's not very often a team gets more than one goal win in this conference. This win is especially big because it puts us at six points clear of Buffalo, Ohio and Akron in the race for a tournament bid."

The Rockets' offense was explosive from the opening whistle and registered the game's first quality scoring opportunity just 4:48 into the contest. Senior Kelly Langenbeck came down the right side of the field and crossed the ball to the top of the UB goal box to a wide-open classmate Pam Richard, who promptly rifled a shot on goal. Unfortunately for the Midnight Blue and Gold, the ball hit the cross bar and caromed out of danger.

Toledo continued to apply pressure in the opening 45 minutes and it finally paid off when the Rockets scored the game's initial goal at 40:40 with the aid of a Buffalo defender. Freshman Tara Witt set up the score as she crossed the ball into the middle of the UB goal box, but a Bulls defender headed the ball past their goalkeeper Anna-Lesa Calvert and into the back of the net for an own goal and the eventual game-winner.

"Buffalo caused us problems today with some of the things they did tactically, and we were slow to adjust," Evans said. "We were fortunate to get that first goal and that sort of opened things up."

The score would remain the same until 62:48 when Langenbeck doubled UT's lead with her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Langenbeck was played a thru ball by sophomore Candice Choquette deep into the Buffalo third of the field. The co-captain made a move on a defender toward the inside of the field and then cut it back out wide giving her just enough space to lift a shot over Calvert's head and into the goal for her third tally in the last two matches.

"Kelly took the touch out wide and I thought that would take away her angle, but her shot was exceptional and beat their keeper on the back post," Evans said.

The Rockets added an insurance goal at 73:53 on freshman Rachel White's first collegiate goal. Classmate Witt maneuvered past a couple of UB defenders and perfectly crossed the ball to an unmarked White right in front of the UB goal box, who one-timed it into the open net for the match's final tally.

"Coming into today, we thought we could have some success on the back side because of the way they play defensively, and Rachel took advantage of an opportunity when it presented itself and scored a goal," Evans said.

UT outshot Buffalo, 21-6, for the match, and the Rockets also held the advantage in shots on goal (11-4) and corner kicks (8-6). Junior Jen Whipple and senior Molly Patterson combined for the shutout as they totaled two saves apiece for the Rockets. Calvert absorbed the loss for the Bulls, collecting eight saves.

The Rockets return to action on Sunday, Oct. 16 when they host Kent State. Kickoff will be at 1:00 p.m. at Scott Park, with "Senior Day" festivities preceding the match.

TOLEDO 3, Buffalo 0

UT: Own Goal (Unassisted), 40:40
UT: K. Langenbeck (Choquette), 62:48
UT: R. White (Witt), 73:53

SHOTS: UT 21, UB 6
SAVES: UT 4, UB 8
CORNER KICKS: UT 8, UB 6
FOULS: UT 10, UB 11