CLEVELAND, OH - Toledo sophomore Sarah Blake scored two early second-half goals and freshman Kristen Lynn added a tally late to lift the visiting Rockets (1-0-0) over Cleveland State, 3-0, in the season opener for both teams on Sunday afternoon. With the win at Krenzler Field, UT improves to 9-3-2 all-time in season-opening matches, including an impressive 5-1-2 under eighth-year Head Coach Brad Evans.
"It's nice to get a win, especially on the road," said Evans, whose team is a perfect 3-0-0 all-time against CSU and outscored the opposition, 12-0, in those matches. "With that being said though, we still have a lot to do, but I feel we have enough time to learn more about both sides of the ball through our non-conference schedule."
The Vikings (0-1-0) held the match's first quality scoring opportunity with about 10 minutes left in the opening half when the Rockets were whistled for a hand ball inside the box.
CSU's Jennifer Wieand stepped up to take the penalty kick, but Toledo sophomore netminder Angela Righeimer guessed correctly, lunging to her left and knocked the ball away. The Vikings' Clare Barry followed up the save with a shot of her own, but Righeimer turned that shot away too and the team's went to the intermission still tied.
Following a scoreless first period, Blake gave Toledo a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the second stanza when she knocked in a loose ball in front of the goal off a corner kick by junior Molly Cornwell. It was just two minutes later that Blake extended the visitors' lead to 2-0 when she intercepted a clearance pass and scored her second goal of the day.
"We played kind of jittery in the first half, but once Coach Evans talked to us (at halftime), we settled down and performed much better in the second half," said Blake, who scored two goals in 23 matches last year. "This was a good win for us and a great way to start the season."
UT's Lynn then put the match away in the 74th minute when she blasted a shot from 15-yards out past CSU's Kelly Zinkiewich, who was peppered with 14 shots and finished with seven saves.
Righeimer had three saves in the first half before being relieved by freshman Vicki Traven for the second half as the duo combined for the shutout.
The two-time defending Mid-American Conference tourney champions outshot the opposition, 14-4, and held a decisive 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Blake and Cornwell paced UT with five shots apiece, while senior Annie Sullivan, junior Nora Jereb, sophomore Erin Flynn and Lynn had one shot each.
Toledo returns to action next Sunday, Aug. 31, to open up its home schedule against DePaul. The opening whistle from Scott Park is slated for 1:00 p.m.
TOLEDO 3, Cleveland State 0
SHOTS: UT 14, CSU 4
CORNER KICKS: UT 6, CSU 1
SAVES: UT 3, CSU 7
FOULS: UT 17, CSU 11
UT: S. Blake (M. Cornwell), 47:10
UT: S. Blake (Unassisted), 49:20
UT: K. Lynn (Unassisted), 74:02
