Final Stats
TOLEDO, OH - Senior Kelly Langenbeck had a pair of goals as the Toledo women's soccer team posted a 3-2 victory against Ohio on Sunday afternoon in Mid-American Conference action at Scott Park.
With the win, the Rockets improve to 8-5-0 overall and 3-3-0 in MAC play. The Bobcats drop to 3-9-0 and 1-5-0, respectively. The victory also ended the Rockets' four-game skid against Ohio and was only their second win in nine-career meetings.
"I give our kids a lot of credit, not only today, but for this whole weekend," said Toledo Head Coach Brad Evans, whose Rockets also defeated Akron, 1-0, in overtime on Friday. "We've won two league games in a row and that's huge. Anytime a team earns six points in a weekend is important in the MAC, because it doesn't happen very often."
Langenbeck and the Rockets jumped all over Ohio early, scoring within the first five minutes. Senior Kristen Friedmann played a ball deep into Ohio territory to a streaking Langenbeck, who promptly took a couple of dribbles and lifted a shot over Ohio goalkeeper Katie Overmann's head for the game's initial goal at 3:33.
"I thought Kelly's early goal took some life out of Ohio," Evans said. "Scoring early is something we've tried to do all season and today we reached that goal. Give the Bobcats credit, though, because they did not quit. They played hard and continued to battle."
Just over 20 minutes later, the Rockets doubled their lead on senior Pam Richard's third goal of the season. Off a UT corner kick, sophomore Pene Hughes perfectly placed a ball into the middle of the Ohio goal box and Richard raised up and headed the ball into the back of the net to establish a two-goal margin.
Ohio spoiled the Rockets' shutout bid at 32:01 of the first half, as Lindsey Price scored a goal from Sarah Merritt. Price was played a ball through the last line of UT defense by Merritt, and she maneuvered herself around UT goalkeeper Jen Whipple, who had come off her line, and launched a shot from 15-yards out into the top right-corner of the goal to make it a one-goal difference at intermission.
To start the second half, the Bobcats had a great opportunity to tie the score when Erika Schmitt had a step on three UT defenders and fired a shot on goal, but Whipple came up big and tipped the ball over the cross bar and out of danger at 53:01.
Toledo would quickly regain its composure and increased its lead back to two goals as Langenbeck scored what would prove to be the game-winning score at 75:49 with her team-leading sixth tally of the season. Sophomore Sarah Schulte was credited with the assist, as she beat a Ohio defender on the right side and sent a cross the ball into Langenbeck, who flicked it with her head into the back of the net. It was Langenbeck's third multi-goal match in her collegiate career and second this season. The co-captain needs just two more scores to move into the top five in school history in career goals.
The Bobcats mounted a comeback with Maggie Rojas-Alford's goal in the 89th minute, but Toledo maintained control of the match for the victory.
Toledo held a 12-5 margin in shot attempts and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Langenbeck and Richard each had a team-high three shots. Whipple made two saves en route to the win.
The Rockets remain home for a pair of matches next weekend, beginning with a Friday Oct. 14 match against Buffalo at 4:00 p.m.
TOLEDO 3, Ohio 2
UT: K. Langenbeck (Friedmann), 3:33
UT: P. Richard (Hughes), 25:57
OU: L. Price (Merritt), 32:01
UT: K. Langenbeck (Schulte), 75:49
OU: M. Rojas-Alfrord (Unassisted), 89:45
SHOTS: UT 12, OU 5
SAVES: UT 2, OU 2
CORNER KICKS: UT 6, OU 3
FOULS: UT 9, OU 5
