TOLEDO, OH - Freshman Nicole Gyurgyik scored her second winning goal in the last three matches to push Toledo to a 2-1 victory over Western Michigan on Sunday at Scott Park. With the win, the Rockets improve to 6-2-2 overall and remain unbeaten at 2-0-0 in the Mid-American Conference.
Gyurgyik accepted a pass from junior Ana Reynolds down the left side approximately 25 yards from the Broncos' (5-5-0, 1-1-0 MAC) goal and lofted a left-footed shot toward the back post. The ball went over the head of WMU goalie Julia Francy, who had come off her line, and glanced off the far post, trickling into the back of the net for her second tally of the season. The Mayfield Heights, OH native was also responsible for the double-overtime contest winner at Wright State on Friday, Sept. 17.
The Midnight Blue & Gold started today's match very crisp and opened the scoring on a well-executed volley off the foot of freshman Rachel MacLeod at 10:26. The opening tally was setup on a nice run down the left side by sophomore Rachael Kravitz, who then crossed it toward the WMU back post. MacLeod was unguarded approximately six-yards out and volleyed the cross home for her fourth goal of the season. On the play, Kravitz was credited with her team-best fifth helper of the fall.
Unfortunately for the home team, the lead did not last long as the Broncos drew the score even once again on Stephanie Skowneski's goal at the 18:08 mark. Teammate Anina Cicerone started the equalizer with a pass into the middle of the field to Kelsey Baskins, who promptly flicked it forward to a streaking Skowneski deep in Toledo territory. UT junior goalie Vicki Traven came off her line to try and cut down Skowneski's angle, but she slid a low shot past her to make the score 1-1 at the intermission.
Western Michigan continued to apply pressure in the beginning stages of the second half came within inches of taking its first lead on a boot by Nikolette Rivera in the 54th minute. The sleek-footed midfielder made a couple nice moves approximately 30 yards from the UT goal and placed a shot that just sailed over the crossbar and out of danger.
Following Gyurgyik's eventual winning tally, WMU had one other quality scoring chance to extend today's showdown on a shot by Alex Wagner with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation. Wagner made a long run down the right side and cut toward the middle of the pitch, beating two or three UT players in the process. She then blasted a shot that barely missed its mark, securing the Rockets' victory.
Toledo finished with an 11-6 edge in shots, including a match-high four off the foot of MacLeod. The home team also held a commanding 6-0 edge in corner kicks.
Between the posts, UT's Traven was only called on to make one save and earned the victory. As a unit, Toledo has yielded only two goals over its last four matches.
Today's win was Toledo's third straight over Western Michigan at home and helped the three-time MAC Tournament improve to 42-8-5 at the corner of Hill Ave. and Parkside Blvd. since the start of the 2005 campaign.
The Rockets return to action on Friday, Oct. 1 when they travel to Athens, OH to battle Ohio. The opening whistle from Chessa Field is slated for 4:00 p.m.
TOLEDO 2, Western Michigan 1
UT: R. MacLeod (R. Kravitz), 10:26
WMU: S. Skowneski (A. Cicerone, K. Baskins), 18:03
UT: N. Gyurgyik (A. Reynolds), 69:14
SHOTS: UT 11,WMU 6
CORNER KICKS: UT 6, WMU 0
SAVES: UT 1, WMU 2
FOULS: UT 14, WMU 13
