TOLEDO, OH - Four different players scored a goal and led Toledo to a 4-1 victory over Northern Illinois in Sunday's Mid-American Conference match at Scott Park. With today's win, the Rockets run their winning streak to a school-record five-straight matches and improve to 7-2-1 overall, 2-0-0 in the league.
As has been the case during the winning streak, UT started quickly and struck first blood just 6:23 into the match on senior Sarah Schulte's fourth goal in 2007. Classmate Suzi Siwinski set up the score with a free kick into the heart of the NIU goal box from about 45-yards out. The ball traveled over the last line of the Huskies' defense to Schulte, who ran onto it and blasted a shot home for the game's initial tally.
The Rockets continued to play aggressive and doubled their advantage less than four-minutes later following sophomore Ali Leak's team-high fifth score. Classmate Molly Cornwell played a ball down the left side to Leak, who gained her composure and perfectly placed a shot out of the reach of NIU goalkeeper Audrey Holmer to make the score 2-0.
The Midnight Blue and Gold was relentless with its pressure as the first half wore on and nearly added to its lead in the 20th minute. Cornwell made a tremendous run down the sidelines and fired a shot on goal, but NIU's Holmer made a beautiful diving save to keep it a two-goal match.
Facing a sizable deficit, NIU had its best scoring chance in the opening half in the 39th minute. The Huskies' Cara Stutler made a long run down with the ball down the sidelines and crossed it to teammate Becca Ford in the UT goal box. Ford was able to get her head on the cross, but her shot went just wide of the target and the score was 2-0 at the intermission.
To start the second period, the Rockets put their foot on the accelerator and a score by Cornwell at 50:05 gave the defending league champs a three-goal cushion. Off a throw in by sophomore Megan Ginley, Cornwell made a couple nice moves and perfectly placed the ball into the back corner of the net from almost an impossible angle for her fifth tally in 2007. Through the first 10 games this season, Cornwell leads the squad with 18 points (five goals, eight assists).
Northern Illinois (4-3-2, 1-1-0 MAC) would not go quiet, though, and Karen Enockson successfully converted a penalty kick at 67:36 to keep the visitors within striking distance. The Huskies played a ball deep into the UT goal box, before one of their players was pushed from behind to set up the free kick.
With NIU gaining some momentum from its tally, UT needed a spark and received it in grand fashion from junior Annie Sullivan. The Rockets had a corner kick and Sullivan someone was able to maneuver herself in between a couple of NIU defenders and slid a shot past Holmer to make the final score, 4-1.
Toledo held a slim 12-11 shot advantage in the match. Sophomore Andrea Plewes totaled three saves for the victors, while Holmer absorbed the loss for the Huskies, collecting five stops.
The Rockets return to action next Friday, Oct. 5, when they host Eastern Michigan. The opening whistle against the Eagles is slated for 4:00 p.m. at Scott Park.
TOLEDO 4, Northern Illinois 1
UT: S. Schulte (S. Siwinski), 6:23
UT: A. Leak (M. Cornwell), 9:48
UT: M. Cornwell (M. Ginley), 50:05
NIU: K. Enockson (penalty kick), 67:56
UT: A. Sullivan (unassisted), 75:38
SHOTS: UT 12, NIU 11
CORNER KICKS: UT 5, NIU 1
SAVES: UT 3, NIU 5
FOULS: UT 15, NIU 18
