MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - Toledo rebounded from its setback at Eastern Michigan on Friday by playing 2009 Mid-American Conference regular-season champion Central Michigan to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sunday at the CMU Soccer Complex. The Rockets' record now stands at 9-6-3 overall and 5-3-2 in the MAC, while the Chippewas move to 14-3-1 and 9-0-1 in league play.
"Today was a great match," said Toledo Head Coach Brad Evans, whose team is undefeated in its last eight contests against CMU (3-0-5). "I thought we showed real resolve after Friday's tough contest. CMU is a strong team, and I really enjoyed the ebb and flow of today's action."
Neither squad mustered much offense in the first stanza. UT possessed the ball in CMU's end more in the first 45 minutes, but the home team had the best scoring opportunity of the opening frame. The Chippewas' Stephanie Martin nearly put the home team on the scoreboard in the 33rd minute when she blasted a shot from just in front of the UT goal box, but sophomore keeper Vicki Traven sprawled to her left to make the save, keeping the match scoreless at the intermission.
Central Michigan controlled play for most of the second period, outshooting the Rockets, 6-0, in the final regulation frame.
Neither team fired a shot in the first overtime period, but Toledo created some quality opportunities in the second extra period. Two-time MAC Player of the Year Molly Cornwell fired three shots, all on goal, but CMU's Shay Mannino was equal to the task and kept UT off the board.
The Rockets were outshot by the Chippewas, 10-5, but owned a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.
UT returns to action on Thursday, Oct.29 when it wraps up its regular season against arch-rival Bowling Green at Scott Park. The opening whistle is slated for 3:00 p.m. and will be televised live on BCSN. If the regular season ended today, the Rockets would be the fifth seed in next weekend's first round of the MAC Tournament and on the road on Sunday, Nov. 1. A win against the Falcons, coupled with an Akron loss would clinch a home-conference tourney berth. But at a same time, a loss to their arch-rivals and a win for Miami would drop the three-time defending to the sixth seed.
TOLEDO 0, Central Michigan 0 (2OT)
SHOTS: UT 5, CMU 10
CORNER KICKS: UT 4, CMU 1
SAVES: UT 6, CMU 4
FOULS: UT 11,CMU 9