TOLEDO, OH – Toledo (5-3-0) opens Mid-American Conference action this weekend and is riding a four match winning streak for the first time since 2011.This weekend the Rockets will host Kent State (4-1-0) on Friday, Sept. 23 at 4:00 p.m. and Ohio (2-4-1) on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1:00 p.m. Both matches will be held at Scott Park.

The Rockets finished fourth in the MAC West Division with a 5-6-0 record last season. UT looks to start its 2016 conference schedule on a high note this weekend.

"It's the first conference weekend and you want to set that tone right away," said Toledo assistant coach Jessica Nei. "Kent State and Ohio are great opponents to go up against. They are going to test us."

The Rockets won their fourth consecutive match as they scored three goals and posted their fourth straight shutout in a 3-0 win over Indiana State on Sunday. The UT offense was aggressive, putting 13 shots on goal against the Sycamores.

Senior Kiersten Johnson started the scoring with her team-high fourth goal of the year. Freshman Alex Troy and junior Isa Echeverri each scored their first goal of the season with Troy's being the first of her career. Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Wilson recorded her fourth straight shutout between the posts.

"We have really jelled as a team," continued Nei. "Our forwards are relentless up top and our midfielders and defenders have jelled. At the end of the day it's a total team effort defensively and that's what leads to the shutouts."

MAC East Division foe Kent State is on a four match winning streak of its own after a 2-1 victory over Indiana State on Friday (Sept. 16).  Senior Jenna Hellstrom knocked in her fifth goal of the season and set a school record for career scoring in the win.  Sophomore keeper Ashleah McDonald has played every minute for Kent State this year, recording 25 saves in 470 minutes.  

"They return the MAC offensive player of the year in Hellstrom," Nei said. "They're a very strong attacking team and we are going to be focused in on that. They're a good team to go up against."

After stopping in Bowling Green on Friday, the Ohio Bobcats come up I-75 to battle the Rockets on Sunday. Ohio has a draw and two loses since smoldering Cleveland State, 5-0, two weeks ago. Freshman Courtney Daugerdas and senior Alexis Milesky lead the team with two goals each.

 "Ohio is relentless and they play very positive," continued Nei. "They have multiple options offensively and multiple players scoring goals for them. They do a great job with their offensive attack."

After this weekend, the Rockets end the month by traveling to Akron on Sept. 30^th and Buffalo on Oct. 2^nd for more the second weekend of MAC play.