TOLEDO, OH ? Sophomore Ali Leak's "golden goal" in the 103rd minute lifted Toledo to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ohio in double overtime at sunny Scott Park. With today's win, the Rockets improve to 13-4-1 overall and 8-2-0 in the Mid-American Conference. The defending conference tournament champions continued their dominance at home on "Senior Day" and are a perfect 8-0-0 at Scott Park this season and 19-3-3 since the start of the 2005 season.
The winning play began when Leak made a run down the right side in the Bobcats' end. Junior Tara Witt played a long ball into that space to Leak, who quickly took a few dribbles and flicked a low shot that eluded Ohio goalkeeper Jess MacLean and sent the Toledo bench into a frenzy. Leak was credited with her sixth goal and Witt her second assist of the season.
Ohio (4-10-3, 4-5-1 MAC) started today's match strong and jumped on the scoreboard first at 7:00 on a penalty kick off the foot of Larissa Najjar. The open tally was setup on a long serve by the Bobcats' Erika Schmitt to Najjar deep in the Toledo goal box. Najjar was then tripped by UT senior Pene Hughes to force the free kick. The Bobcats' goal marked just the second time this season that the Rockets have trailed at home.
UT's deficit proved to be short lived, as the Midnight Blue and Gold countered with a score by sophomore Molly Cornwell at 13:58. Toledo's Leak made a nice move to create some space in the middle of the field and led senior Sarah Schulte into the corner. The co-captain crossed the ball into the middle of the Ohio goal box to Cornwell, who took one dribble and blasted home her team-best 11th goal of the season. Schulte and Leak were both credited with their second assists of the season and made the score tied 1-1 at the intermission.
In the second half, the Rockets had the first choice to retake the lead on a shot by freshman Erin Flynn at 50:52. UT's Schulte beat an Ohio defender down the far sidelines and perfectly crossed the ball into the middle of the Bobcats' goal box to Flynn. The Mississauga, ONT native volleyed a shot from about 10-yards out that just sailed over the crossbar.
Back and forth the team's battled as the second-stanza wore on before Ohio was given a quality opportunity to retake the advantage on a shot by Lindsey Price in the 59th minute. Fortunately for the Rockets, sophomore netminder Andrea Plewes made a nice diving stop on Price's shot from eight-yards out to send the match into overtime.
The two extra periods, though, belonged to Toledo. The Rockets went to the attack and outshot the Bobcats, 4-0. UT was presented with a golden chance to claim victory in the 92nd minute when she blasted a free kick from 20-yards out that slid wide of the target.
The home team kept the momentum on its side in the second extra session and Leak delivered to give the Rockets the win early in the OT session.
Ohio finished with a slim 11-10 advantage in shots, but Toledo held an 8-4 margin in corner kicks.
UT's Plewes made five saves in net to earn her 10th victory of the season, while Ohio's MacLean was not credited with a save in the match and suffered the setback.
The Rockets return to action on Thursday, Nov. 1 to wrap up their regular season against arch-rival Bowling Green. The opening whistle is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Scott Park and the match will be televised live by BCSN.
TOLEDO 2, Ohio 1 (2OT)
OU: L. Najjar (Penalty Kick), 7:00
UT: M. Cornwell (S. Schulte, A. Leak), 13:58
UT: A. Leak (T. Witt), 102:05
SHOTS: UT 10, OU 11
CORNER KICKS: UT 8, OU 4
SAVES: UT 5, OU 0
FOULS: UT 9, OU 9
