Toledo, Ohio - The defending Mid-American Conference champion Toledo Rockets (4-3-1) are set to open conference play this weekend with road matches at Ball State (4-1-1) and Miami (2-4-1). The Rockets take on the Cardinals in Muncie, Ind. on Friday at 5:00 p.m., then head down to Oxford, Ohio on Sunday for a 1:00 p.m. match against the RedHawks.
 
Last time in the MAC
The Rockets went 6-3-2 during conference play last season, amassing a 4-1-1 home and 2-2-1 away record. Hannah Scafaria scored six goals during league play, and goalkeeper Madison Perrin, who played every minute for UT, recorded a 1.23 GAA and .794 save percentage. Toledo's play earned them the No. 3 seed spot in the MAC tournament, where they went on to defeat Western Michigan (2-1), Ball State (2-1, 2OT) and Bowling Green (2-1, OT) to claim UT's fifth conference title, and first since 2011.
 
Last time out
The Rockets are coming off a weekend split against Illinois State and Oakland. Toledo played to a 2-1 loss against ISU on Friday that saw Scafaria earn her seventh goal of the year, putting her one away from tying her career high of eight goals in a single season. UT got on the board first in the 28th minute but the Redbirds quickly responded, putting points up in the 33rd and 41st minutes.
 
In Sunday's contest, Ashton Cassel become the hero of the day after scoring the game-winning goal off a header in the closing minutes. Cassel nodded in the goal in the 98th minute off a ball from senior Natalie Knauf, giving the Rockets a 1-0 victory over the Golden Grizzlies.
 
Scouting Toledo
The Rockets are led by senior captain Hannah Scafaria who has netted seven goals through eight games, including a hat trick against UIC on Aug. 26. Scafaria, who scored eight goals and two assists in 2017, had a breakout year in 2017 and shows no signs of slowing this season. The senior is currently ranked 13th in the nation for goals per game, averaging 0.88.
 
Senior Kelsey Kraft along with sophomores Sophia Lewis and Alex Troy have been getting into the mix lately as well. Kraft has one goal with two assists, and has been a go-to bench player for the Rockets this season. Lewis has one goal and three assists on the year, and Troy has contributed two goes while showing an exceptional ability to control the ball through the midfield.
 
Sophomore Madison Perrin has been Toledo's main goalkeeper this year. Perrin holds a 3-2-1 record with two shutouts, a .806 save percentage, and a 0.97 GAA.
 
Last time against Ball State
Toledo and the Cardinals last met in UT's second match of the MAC tournament. BSU got on the board in the eighth minute thanks to Allison Abbe scoring off a shot that ricocheted past Perrin. Toledo responded early into the second half when Alena Sidwell got in close and scored from eight yards away to level things. The score sat 1-1 through the rest of the second half and one overtime period until Regan Price netted the game winner in the 106th minute.
 
Scouting the Cardinals
Ball State is coming off a 3-1 victory over Omaha on Friday. Omaha got on the board first in the 57th minute but the Cardinals hit back in the 68th, 75th and 77th minutes to secure the win. Freshmen Tatiana Mason scored her third of the year that day after slipping through the defense, and junior Julia Elvbo and senior Paula Guerrero each netted their first of the season.
 
Ball State is led by Mason who has three goals and one assist through six games and three starts. She's backed by Abbe who has two goals this season, starting five of her six matches. BSU's top goalkeeper is Stuteville who's 4-1-1 through six starts. She's recorded a 0.65 GAA and .857 save percentage with one shutout.
 
Last time against Miami
Toledo and the RedHawks last met in September 2017 in Toledo. UT won 3-1 off goals from Sophie Pohl, Anita Mancini and Scafaria. Both offenses had a field day, with UT putting up 12 shots (seven SOG) and Miami shooting 11 (five SOG). Perrin stood in goal for UT, opposite of Miami's Patricia Koutoulas. Both keepers recorded four saves through 90 minutes.
 
Scouting the RedHawks
Miami is coming off a 2-0 defeat to Big East opponent Xavier. The Musketeers put points up in the 29th and 44th minutes, and amassed 28 shots, putting 13 on frame. Miami's offense was mostly shut down, with the RedHawks only getting one of their five shots on frame.
 
The RedHawks are led by freshman Lyda Bogdanovitch. Bogdanovitch has two goals and has started five of her six games. She's supported by junior Olivia Winnett and freshman Jordan King. Winnett has one goal and two assist and has started every match for Miami. King has assisted in four goals and has started six of her seven contests.
 
Koutoulas returns in net for Miami and has a 1.64 GAA and .750 save percentage with one shutout this season. She's started in all seven matches for Miami.
 
Watch live
The Rockets' match against Ball State will be shown live on ESPN+.