TOLEDO, OH - Redshirt freshman Isa Echeverri scored the lone goal for the Rockets in Sunday's 1-0 win over Xavier to give UT head coach Brad Evans his 200th career win.
“It is exciting,” Evans said. “Longevity plays a role but it's good and I am happy I got it with these players and coaches. There have been a lot of players and coaches over the years and I thank them for making this possible.”
With the blanking, Toledo has now registered two shutouts in their last three games and improves to 2-1-1 on the season.
“We are trying to establish some cohesiveness and grit in our defense,” Evans said. “It is ongoing process and there are some kinks to be worked out but I think we did a good job. The backs did a good job and the forwards stepped up their pressure defensively. That helps our defense too.”
Echeverri received a cross from junior midfielder Geri Siudzinski on a free kick and was able to flick it with her head just inside the back post in the 65th minute of play. The Xavier (0-3-0) goalkeeper could not make the stop despite a diving effort as Echeverri was credited with her first goal of the season.
The midfielder from Medellin, Columbia missed the first two games of the season while training with the Columbian National Team for the South America Championships.
“She hasn't really been able to train with us and it's a big deal for us to get her back even if it is just a few games.” Evans said. “She will only get better with time and we are happy to have her.”
The Rockets offense was very aggressive and up tempo once again. Despite battling fatigue and the humidity, Toledo held a 15-5 shot advantage and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
Between the posts, junior Sam Tiongson went the distance and made one save on the afternoon to earn her second shutout of the season.
The first half began with each team struggling to get any good offensive chances as the each team's defenses were settled in nicely.
The Rockets were able to keep the ball in the Xavier end for most of the first half and their best chance came late in the period as freshman forward Bethany Thomas's cross to sophomore Chelsea Thompson was corralled by the XU keeper at the last second.
The Musketeers best chance of the game came in early in the second half. Senior Alyssa Tindal found herself in behind the Toledo defense with just the keeper to beat but muffed her shot wide of the net.
The Rockets went into defensive mode in the final ten minutes, controlling the pitch with ease and closing out the one-goal win.
“We knew this was going to be a grind,” Evans said. “The players coming off the bench did a good job of getting us lifted. It was a total team effort and that's a great sign for us. It doesn't have to be pretty for us to win and good teams have to win ugly.”
The Rockets are in the midst of a three games in a five day stretch and will cap off the non-conference homestand with a match against Ohio State on Tuesday night at 5:00 p.m. at Scott Park.
TOLEDO 1, Xavier 0
UT: I. Echeverri (G. Siudzinski), 64:58
SHOTS: UT 15, XU 5
CORNER KICKS: UT 4, XU 2
SAVES: UT 1, XU 8
