OXFORD, OH - A pair of header goals for Miami doomed the Rockets in Oxford, OH on Friday night. The RedHawks (8-2-1) scored a goal in each half to send Toledo to 3-7-1 on the season.
"In a lot of ways today is similar to how things have been going of late,” UT head coach Brad Evans said. “We lose the mental part of the competition in small spurts and we aren't the type of team that can afford to do that. Credit Miami for taking advantage. We have to work hard mentally at regaining momentum one play at a time and see a game through from start to finish.”
Miami held an 18-5 shot advantage including a 7-3 edge in shots on goal. The Rockets managed just one corner kick while the RedHawks tallied eight. UT keeper Sam Tiongson recorded five saves including four in the first half.
Leading the Rockets on the offensive end was junior midfielder Geri Siudzinski. The Perrysburg, OH native totaled two shots on goal and three overall. Junior defender Megan Connor and senior forward Rio James each tallied a shot as well.
Paving the way for Miami was forward Kelsey DInges with six shots, three on goal and a very early goal which set the tone for the RedHawks.
Just 1:16 into the game, Dinges received a long pass from Shannon Stearns and was able to flick it past Tiongson to give Miami the early 1-0 advantage.
The Rockets rallied back and nearly tied it up on multiple occasions in the first half. Siudzinski had a chance in the 14th minute after beating a defender on the left side and crossed in front of the goal but the Miami keeper was able to corral the ball for the save.
Just two minutes later senior defender Alexis Tice rose above the crowd on a corner kick from senior Kirsten Catloth and was able to get a touch on it but the ball fell into a crowd of players and was eventually cleared by the RedHawks defenders.
Miami nearly squeaked one by Tiongson late in the first half but the Carmel, IN native dove up into the upper 90 and punched away the long blast to keep the score at 1-0 at the break.
A little over 10 minutes into the second half the RedHawks capitalized on a corner kick. Tiongson was able to block the initial pass away but the deflection wound up at the feet of Stearns who buried it in the back of the net to make it 2-0.
The Rockets looked to cut into the deficit in the 64th minute as Tiongson found Catloth with a long pass down the left side. The senior captain crossed it into the middle and found Connor who's header sailed just over the cross bar.
From there the Miami defense was able to keep the Toledo attack at bay and closed out the two-goal victory.
“Lately we haven't been winning our moments as a team and it costs us every time,” Evans said. “Miami capitalized on our mental lapses and came out on top. As a team we need to do a better job of holding each other to the highest standard in order to earn results. It starts in training everyday and when we do it there we will be able to compete and win moments and games.”
UT returns to action on Sunday afternoon in Muncie, IN to face Ball State at 1:00 p.m.
