TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (2-3-0) will try to spark a winning streak this weekend when it hosts Cleveland State (2-4-0) on Friday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m. at Scott Park, and travels to Oakland (3-3-0) on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:00 p.m. at the Oakland Soccer Field.
The Rockets won their most recent match on Sunday via an Own Goal by Detroit in the 81
st minute to secure a 1-0 shutout victory. Sophomore goalkeeper
Katie Wilson made three saves to keep the clean sheet, her first of the season and fifth in her career. Toledo's defense bent but never broke against the Titans, giving up three shots and seven corner kicks, but none found the back of the net.
"Normally Own Goals don't come that late, they're usually earlier in the game," assistant coach
Paul Smith said. "They were facing their own goal and Alena (Sidwell) had a good run. She played the ball in and fortunately for us it went off one of UD's players and into their goal."
Cleveland State opens the weekend at 2-4-0 and is coming off back-to-back losses against MAC members Ohio and Akron. Freshman Aliani Lorenzo and senior Kaila Sargema are leading the Vikings with three goals each. Between the posts, junior keeper Jamie Daniels has recorded 21 saves so far this season.
"Cleveland State has really good forwards and is well coached," said Smith. "They have 12 goals counting the exhibition so they have put up a lot of goals."
Following Friday's home contest the Rockets will travel to Rochester, MI. to play the 2015 Horizon League Champions Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies have started the year off by splitting their first six matches. Sydnye Gagner is leading the Grizzlies with four goals, followed by four players who have all found the back of the net once.
"We played them last year and they have some really special players," Smith continued. "Their senior midfielder has been all-conference a couple years, and a sophomore forward is coming off a four-goal effort. They're going to come in with a lot of confidence."
Goalkeeping duties have been spilt by Sophia Braun and Alison Holland for Oakland, both keepers have played 270 minutes between the posts. Holland leads the team with 16 saves, while Braun has eight.
Following this weekend's contents, the Rockets will host Indiana State on Sunday, Sept. 18
th at 1:00 p.m. at Scott Park.