Ypsilanti, Mich. - The Toledo women's soccer team (7-5-1, 3-2-0 MAC) won 4-3 in overtime over Eastern Michigan (7-7-0, 2-3-0 MAC) on Thursday in UT's first match of the week. The Rockets' winning goal came from senior captain Alena Sidwell and was her first of the season.
 
"It feels really good to get a win on the road," Sidwell said. "It was a wild game and I don't know if I'll ever have another game like that. To get the win on the road and have to fight back from behind a couple times is awesome."
 
"Alena is a relentless worker on the field and just gets the job done," head coach TJ Buchholz said. "The team needed a goal in overtime and she found a way. She's been in a lot of good spots this season where the ball just hasn't bounced her way, so for the way she was able to be composed in the moment and put that away was special."
 
Toledo's other goals came from sophomore Sophie Lewis, senior Natalie Knauf, and senior captain Hannah Scafaria. Scafaria's goal was her 12th of the season and ties her for third-most in program history.
 
"It's awesome the way our girls really battled," Buchholz said. "Eastern is a great attacking team. For us to be down a goal and have to fight back to get it to overtime is great. Our team keeps getting better and better each week. I think the resiliency is starting to set in where if we give up a lead or give up a goal, we're not fazed. I think that's something we want to keep building on."
 
How it happened
Toledo jumped on the attack early on, quickly putting up seven shots in the first 25 minutes and holding EMU to two.
 
The Eagles opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Sabrina McNeill netted her fifth of the season from six yards out, beating sophomore goalkeeper Madison Perrin.
 
The Rockets rallied three minutes later though, tying the score thanks to Lewis. The sophomore popped a goal into the right upper 90 to level things at 1-1.
 
The Rockets got their second of the match in the 35th minute when Knauf went bar down from the left. The ball trickled in and UT took the 2-1 lead. EMU and UT each took a final attempt but neither shot found the back of the net before the halftime whistle blew.
 
Toledo found its way into the attacking third a few times at the start of the second half. Sophomore Alex Troy, Scafaria and senior captain Regan Price put shots up in the 52nd minute but EMU dealt the chances away.
 
The Eagles tied the score in the 57th minute when Kristen Nason fired a volley past Perrin, knotting the score at 2-2. The Eagles kept the pressure on and took the lead again in the 61st when Madeline Olson kicked in a low shot that stranded Perrin in the middle of the net.
 
Toledo kept with the pace of the match and forced in a third goal in the 75th minute. Scafaria drew out Eagles goalkeeper Mabel Dunn to the right of her net, rounded her, and scored on the empty net to send things to overtime.
 
The winning point came two minutes into overtime thanks to Sidwell. The senior dribbled to the right edge of the 18-yard box and bent in a laser to win it for UT.
 
Next Up
Toledo returns to the field on Sunday for a 1:00 p.m. matchup against Central Michigan at Scott Park.
 
Toledo 4, Eastern Michigan 3
 
Scoring summary:
27' EMU MCNEILL, SABRINA (5) (unassisted)
31' UT Lewis,Sophia (4) Knauf,Natalie
35' UT Knauf,Natalie (12) (unassisted)
57' EMU NASON,KRISTIN (6) SHIRA,LINDSEY
61' EMU OLSON,MADELINE (2) KERR,PARYS
75' UT Scafaria,Hannah (12) Cassel,Ashton rounded keeper and defender, tap in
92' UT Sidwell,Alena (1) Cassel,Ashton 25 yd shot, into top right corner
 
Cautions and ejections:
YC-UT Rachelle Topolewski (7:18)
YC-EMU Mikayla Cupp (72:33)
 
Winning GK: Madison Perrin (6-4-1)
Losing GK: Mabel Dunn (0-1-0).