TOLEDO, OH - Junior Brittany Hensler's third goal of the match lifted Toledo to a thrilling 3-2 double-overtime win over Kent State on Sunday at "Senior Day" at Scott Park. With the victory, the Rockets improve to 9-5-2 overall and 5-2-1 in Mid-American Conference competition.
In the second extra period, Hensler found herself alone approximately 15 yards from the Golden Flashes' (7-6-2, 3-3-2 MAC) goal when a loose ball strayed her way. The Strongsville, OH native quickly squared her shoulders and volleyed home the match winner at 103:39, becoming the sixth player in school history to register a hat-trick.
"I can't explain the third goal," said Hensler with a smile. "I noticed the goalie off her line, so I took a shot and it somehow went in. Coach Evans always talks to us (the team) about taking chances and that is what I did. I've never scored a hat-trick at any level. I was just able to make a play at the end and help our team pick up an important league win."
Today's contest was filled with many peaks and valleys, as the first 74 minutes produced no goals, while the final 19-plus minutes featured five scores and helped move UT into sole possession of second place in the league standings (16 pts.). Squads earn three points for a win and one point for a tie. Central Michigan continues to pace the MAC with an umblemished 8-0-0 mark, good for 24 points.
"This was a dramatic win for us," Toledo Head Coach Brad Evans said. "I'm so happy for our players, especially the seniors. Today was a highly-competitive match. Our team regularly talks about our opponents and how we usually see their best effort everytime out, and I thought Kent State played a great match this afternoon. They are an extremely dangerous team."
KSU finished the slugfest with a slight 14-11 edge in shots, while the three-time defending tourney champions controlled a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.
UT started quickly and nearly found the back of the net on a shot by senior Molly Cornwell at 1:45. The opportunity was setup on a good combination play from junior Lauren Baker, sophomore Kristen Lynn and Cornwell. Baker played a nice through ball to Lynn, who promptly beat a KSU defender down the right side, before crossing it into the middle of the Kent State goal box to Cornwell. The two-time MAC Player of the Year then made a beautiful cut inside to create some free space for herself and launched a shot that KSU netminder Kelly Sherwood made a nice diving save on.
Moments later, UT has presented with another quality scoring chance off the foot of Lynn at 4:20. The Strongsville, OH native had a ball played into her by Cornwell about 10-yards out on the left side. With her back to the net, Lynn turned and fired a left-footed shot that KSU's Sherwood made another diving save on to keep the match scoreless.
After the Rockets were denied on their first two scoring chances, much of the action for the remainder of the opening half was played in the middle of the field with the teams trying to establish some rhythm. The visitors had their best chance to score on a shot by L.A. Thoma at 30:01. The reserve forward juked UT sophomore goalie Vicki Traven and looked like her shot would find the back of the net, but senior defender Megan Ginley was in the right position to stop her attempt and keep the contest scoreless at the intermission.
Kent State started the second period very fast and had another opportunity to jump on the scoreboard first off the foot of Thoma at the 51:53 mark. She turned and fired a left-footed shot about 18-yards out that UT's Traven made an impressive diving save.
Like a chess match, UT countered and Cornwell came within inches of helping the home team draw first blood at 56:53. She received a long pass from Ginley and fired a left-footed shot from about 25-yard out that barely went over the crossbar and out of play.
True to form, Kent State responded and had a opportunity to score on a shot by Annie Messer at 60:21. The KSU forward was one-on-one with UT's Traven, but the 2008 MAC Freshman of the Year made an acrobat kick save.
With both teams and the fans on the edge of their seats with so many near misses, the Rockets struck first on a Hensler header at 74:02. Off the corner kick by Lynn, the Rockets' midfielder positioned her body perfectly in between a couple KSU defenders and blasted home the header for the first tally of the match, opening the floodgates.
Kent State stormed right back and knotted the score at 1-1 on a goal by Kellyn Flanagan at 82:21. The equalizer was setup on a long kick from goalie Sherwood and a nice lead pass off the foot of Messer in the 83rd minute. Following the pair of long passes, Flanagan was one-on-one with Traven and beat her low for the goal.
The visitors used the momentum from the equalizer and a little over two minutes later took their first lead of the match on a tally by Kelly Heaton on 84:45. Off a throw in by Megan Repas, KSU's Heaton was all alone in front of UT goal and poked the ball into the back of the net.
Down but not out, the Rockets knew time was an issue, but a Leak cross to Hensler, who perfectly placed a shot into the upper right corner of the goal at 88:38 sent the match into overtime.
In the first extra period, Kent State had best chance to seize the victory, as Messer headed a shot past UT's Traven, but the ball hit the post and carromed out of danger at 94:34.
In the second overtime, KSU's Thoma made a nice cut deep inside the UT goal box and fired a shot that was blocked out of play at 101:03, setting the stage for Hensler's dramatic volley winner.
"This is all kind of surreal," said Hensler, who came into today's match with one tally on the season. "This match had every emotion possible. We were tied for the longest time, then we led, then we were tied again, then we were behind with not much time left, and then we tied it up late to send it into overtime, before winning it in the second OT. Everybody on our team wanted to win so badly today for our seniors because they have done so much for us."
Toledo netminder Traven was credited with six saves in the win, while Sherwood finished with four stops in a losing effort.
The Rockets return to action next Friday, Oct. 23 when they travel to Ypsilanti, MI to battle Eastern Michigan. The opening whistle is slated for 3:00 p.m. from Scicluna Field.
TOLEDO 3, Kent State 2 (2OT)
UT: B. Hensler (K. Lynn), 74:02
KSU: K. Flanagan (K. Sherwood, A. Messer), 82:21
KSU: K. Heaton (M. Repas), 84:45
UT: B. Hensler (A. Leak), 88:38
UT: B. Hensler (Unassisted), 103:39
SHOTS: UT 11, KSU 14
CORNER KICKS: UT 7, KSU 2
SAVES: UT 7, KSU 4
FOULS: UT 16, KSU 8
