LOS ANGELES, CA - Toledo ended its challenging six-match road trip to start the season with a heartbreaking 1-0 double-overtime setback at Loyola Marymount on Sunday at Sullivan Field. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 1-5-0 of the year.
The Lions' (3-2-0) Melissa Lewis tapped in a cross from teammate Sarah Sanger with just seven seconds remaining in the second extra period to give the home team the last-second victory.
"This was a great battle between two teams who fought extremely hard," first-year head coach TJ Buchholz said. "Unfortunately for us, we just aren't catching the breaks right now."
LMU controlled the pace of play at the outset and collected a couple of shots and had a few corner kicks early on. With the Lions not able to convert, the Rockets settled in and pushed forward to the attack. UT ripped off three shots and a corner kick of its own in the opening 45 minutes but was unable to finish, and the match remained scoreless at the intermission.
The second half began much like the first, as the Lions applied great pressure in the attack. UT senior keeper Sam Tiongson was up to the challenge though, and made a very athletic save in the 54th minute to end the pressure. At the other end of the pitch, freshman Italia Biondi fired off three of her team-high six shots after halftime to pace the Rockets' attack.
"Biondi had a breakout match off the bench," Buchholz said. "She got herself in great position to shoot all day and had some quality looks at the goal."
Both teams saw quality chances to end the match with a "Golden Goal" in both overtime periods. Unfortunately for the Midnight Blue & Gold, LMU's Lewis found space deep in UT's goal box and deposited the cross from Sanger into the back of the frame for her first marker of the year, handing the Rockets the heartbreaking loss.
Toledo will now return to the "Glass City" for its home opener against Oakland on Friday, Sept. 11 at 5:00 p.m. at Scott Park.
"It's going to be great to come home to Toledo," Buchholz said. "There is nothing like playing on your home field, and we're ready to defend our turf."
Loyola Marymount 1, TOLEDO 0 (2OT)
LMU: Melissa Lewis (Sarah Sanger), 109:53Â
