Final Stats
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo women's soccer team posted yet another home win, defeating Kent State by a 2-0 score Sunday afternoon. The Mid-American Conference match was held at UT's Scott Park.
With their fourth-consecutive win and sixth in seven home games, the Rockets improved to 10-5-0 overall and 5-3-0 in MAC play. UT's 10 victories ties the 1996 single-season school record for victories and its eight shutouts equal the 1997 single-season school record for blankings. The Golden Flashes fell to 6-8-0 and 3-4-1 in the league.
"At the beginning of preseason, our team talked about wanting to play our best soccer at the end of the season," Toledo Head Coach Brad Evans said. "Hopefully, we continue to improve and execute better and do just that. We played well today, but execution is really what wins games and we still have some work to do in that area, but overall I'm happy with a win over a good Kent State team."
Sophomore Sarah Schulte and senior Kelly Langenbeck each scored goals for the Midnight Blue and Gold, while the UT defense held the Golden Flashes to just one shot attempt on the afternoon.
As has been the case during UT's winning streak, the Midnight Blue and Gold started quickly and had a quality scoring opportunity just over one minute into the contest. Senior Pam Richard blasted a shot from 10 yards out, but KSU goalkeeper Alicia Fernandez made a diving stop to keep the match scoreless.
The Rockets continued on the offensive attack and had another good chance in the 20th minute when Richard attempted a cross and the ball hit the post and bounced right to Langenbeck, who one-timed a shot on goal, but again Fernandez made a diving save to deny the home team.
UT was relentless in its attack and finally broke through for the eventual game-winning score at 37:23 on Schulte's second goal of the season. Freshman Annie Sullivan, who was credited with the assist, had the ball around midfield and lofted it over the KSU defense to the streaking Clinton Township, MI native. Schulte gained control and by that time had a defender on her inside shoulder, but made a nice move to the outside which created space for her and lifted a shot just inside the far post to make the score 1-0 at the intermission.
"Sarah has really worked hard this season to get better," Evans said. "She's been a little frustrated at times because she hasn't scored, and today she's happy because she put one in the net. I've told her all along that she needs to continue to work hard and be dangerous and today it paid off."
The score would remain the same until 56:09 of the second half as Langenbeck tallied her team-leading eighth goal of the season. Sophomore Pene Hughes set up the goal by beating a couple of KSU defenders down the left side and crossed the ball into the middle to a wide-open Langenbeck, who one-timed it into the back of the net to establish the two-goal cushion. The co-captain's goal was her 18th-career tally and moved her into a fifth-place tie with Odia Jahurally (18 goals, 1997-2000) in school history in tallies scored.
"In soccer, you really don't know how many quality scoring opportunities you're going to have each game," Evans said. "Fortunately for us today, we were able to take advantage of one of those chances."
Despite the two-goal advantage, UT wanted more and had another chance to up its advantage in the waning moments as freshman Rachel White broke free for a one-on-one with KSU's Fernandez, but the netminder cut down the angle and made a diving stop to make the final 2-0.
The two goals were more than junior goalkeeper Jen Whipple would need. Whipple made one save to earn her fifth shutout of the season. The Rockets held a decisive 16-3 advantage in shot attempts and a 10-3 edge in corner kicks.
The Rockets will look to keep the road momentum going next Friday, Oct. 21 at Eastern Michigan. That match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Scicluna Field.
TOLEDO 2, Kent State 0
UT: S. Schulte (Sullivan), 37:23
UT: K. Langenbeck (Hughes), 56:09
SHOTS: UT 16, KSU 3
SAVES: UT 1, KSU 6
CORNER KICKS: UT 10, KSU 3
FOULS: UT 10, KSU 8
