Final Stats

TOLEDO, OH - Senior Pam Richard scored on a penalty kick in overtime this afternoon to give Toledo a 1-0 victory over Akron in a Mid-American Conference match at Scott Park.

The win lifts the Rockets to a 7-5-0 record on the season and 2-3-0 in the MAC. The Zips, meanwhile, fall to 2-9-1 and 0-4-0 in the league.

"I'm extremely happy with today's win," Toledo Head Coach Brad Evans said. "We pounded on the door a lot, but we just couldn't find the one. We didn't get frustrated, though, and continued to put the ball in some dangerous situations and a good thing (penalty kick) eventually happened."

In the extra session, the Midnight Blue and Gold mounted a threat with only three seconds remaining. UA's Jess Pomfret was whistled for a foul against UT senior Kelly Langenbeck in the penalty box, and the Rockets were awarded a penalty kick. Richard's try was true, and the Rockets had the victory.

"I'm glad Pam was able to step up," Evans said. "Pam and Kelly are two seniors who made the most of their opportunities today."

Toledo had several quality scoring chances during regulation, but Akron goalkeeper Krystin Wilson came up big several times and kept the home team at zero on the scoreboard until the very end.

The Rockets nearly scored nine minutes into the match on a free kick blast by sophomore Pene Hughes from about 25-yards out, but Wilson was able to tip the ball over the cross bar.

UT's next best scoring chance would not occur until the second half at 60:39 when Hughes again fired a shot from point-blank range at Wilson, but the Akron keeper was again equal to the task and made the save. Sophomore Suzi Siwinski set up the good-scoring chance by sending a corner kick into the middle of the UA goalbox. Hughes was able to get control of the ball in traffic and rifle off a shot on goal, but Wilson made a nice stop.

Once more in overtime, the Rockets had their chance as junior Kirsty Wilson got her head on a corner kick and just lifted it over the cross bar and out of play.

After the numerous quality scoring chances by Toledo all day, the winning goal began innocently enough. Freshman Tara Witt launched a throw in from approximately 20 yards out. Her throw sailed toward the UA net, and Langenbeck, facing away from the goal, was fouled from behind by Pompret with only three seconds left to set up the penalty kick. Richard stepped and blasted a shot into the upper-left corner of the net and sparked a Rocket celebration.

The Rockets held a commanding 13-3 advantage in shots and a slim 4-3 margin in corner kicks. Junior netminder Jen Whipple picked up her fourth shutout of the season between the posts, making three saves while keeping the Zips off the scoreboard for the seventh time this season.

The Rockets complete the weekend homestand with a Sunday, Oct. 9 match against Ohio. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at UT's Scott Park. Sunday's contest will be broadcast on a taped-delay basis by BCSN.

TOLEDO 1, Akron 0

UT: P. Richard (Penalty Kick), 99:57

SHOTS: UT 13, UA 3
SAVES: UT 3, UA 8
CORNER KICKS: UT 4, UA 3
FOULS: UT 12, UA 16