INDIANAPOLIS, IN ? Junior Annie Sullivan scored an unassisted goal in the 33rd minute to lead Toledo to a 1-0 shutout victory at Butler this afternoon at the Varsity Field. With the non-conference win, the Rockets improve to 5-2-1 on the season. UT's .688 wining percentage after eight matches is the third-best start in school history.
“Today was a great win for us,” Toledo Head Coach Brad Evans said. “Our team came together well. Butler is a very good squad with a lot of speed, but we were able to manage it well. This was a total-team victory.”
Sullivan broke a 0-0 deadlock with an opportunistic goal in the opening 45 minutes of play. Butler goalkeeper Annalise Larkin attempted to dive on a loose ball at the top of the box, but the ball bounced off her hands. Sullivan gathered it and fired a shot from about 10-yards out into an open net at 32:36. It was her first goal of the season and ultimately lifted Toledo to the win.
Both teams went scoreless for the remainder of the contest, but each squad had solid scoring opportunities. Toledo sophomore goalkeeper Andrea Plewes posted eight saves and recorded her second shutout of the season. Larkin also finished with eight saves, including several from point-blank range.
Sophomore Ali Leak led the Rockets with four shots, while classmate Molly Cornwell tallied three shots, respectively.
The Bulldogs had three solid scoring opportunities in the first five minutes of the second half, including one by Angie Muir which was stopped by Plewes. Muir also had a shot stopped by Plewes with just under 15 minutes remaining, and the Toledo netminder also turned away an open shot by Lindsey Fox with eight minutes left.
“Andrea came up real big today,” Evans said. “She made a couple big saves, especially in the first half.”
The Rockets return to action on Friday, Sept. 28 at Scott Park when they begin Mid-American Conference action against Western Michigan. The opening whistle against the Broncos is slated for 4:00 p.m.
TOLEDO 1, Butler 0
UT: A. Sullivan (Unassisted), 32:36
SHOTS: UT 16, BU 15
SAVES: UT 8, BU 8
CORNER KICKS: UT 5, BU 3
FOULS: UT 8, BU 9
