Toledo, Ohio - The Toledo women's soccer team (5-5-1, 1-2-0 MAC) fell 3-2 to Western Michigan (9-2-0, 3-0-0 MAC) in action at Scott Park today. Senior captain Hannah Scafaria put two in the back of the net for UT but it wasn't enough to stop the Broncos from scoring a late game-winner.
 
Scafaria now has 10 goals on the season. One more and she'll be the fourth Rocket to net 11 in a single season, and first since 2013.
 
"We had good resilience today, and to be down two goals and fight back to get even was awesome," head coach TJ Buchholz said. "We've been struggling when we go down to get back in, and I think it showed that our team just battled hard and wanted to get the the win. Kudos to Western Michigan. They had a phenomenal game and made a big play at the end to get the win. They're a good team, there's a reason they're at the top of the conference.
 
"I'm proud of our team because we fought hard the whole time," Buchholz added. "We battled and wanted the game but we just didn't get it. It's disappointing, but we learned from it and I think that we're getting stronger in a lot of spots. We just have to bounce back against NIU."
 
How it happened
Toledo started the day strong, quickly putting three shots up in the first eight minutes while also winning two corners. WMU had a slow start but built into dangerous back-to-back plays in the 27th minute. The Broncos' Alyssa Burke found space in front of net and put two shots on frame, but sophomore goalkeeper Madison Perrin came up with two big saves to keep the score at 0-0.
 
Perrin made saves in the 33rd and 42nd minutes, and Scafaria put another  attempt up in the 35th, but  both defenses worked to deal away any other possible scoring chances, leaving the score tied at 0-0 at halftime.
 
Both sides came out of halftime with a noticeable change in their energy. WMU opened scoring in the 51st off a goal from Grace Labadie. WMU's Hannah Kahn put a shot on frame that rebounded into open space and Labadie chased down the chance, scoring her first of the season.
 
The Broncos scored again in the 60th minute, this time from Bailey Kohorn. Kohorn won the ball in the middle of the 18-yard box and popped it past Perrin to net her fifth of the season and make things 2-0.
 
The Rockets got on the board in the 76th minute thanks to Scafaria. Freshman Ashton Cassel dribbled down low to the right side of the net and slid the ball in front of the net. Scafaria followed up and placed it in the open net for her ninth of the season.
 
Scafaria's second of the day came three minutes later when freshman Elbony Rodriguez lobbed a ball over the back line. The pop-up opened space for Scafaria to run up and play the ball past the keeper to tie things up 2-2.
 
WMU's game-winner came in the 84th minute. WMU's Morgan Otteson sent in a cross to the middle of the 18-yard box that teammate Colleen McKay headed in past Perrin. Toledo fought hard in the closing minutes but they weren't able to answer.
 
Up Next
The Rockets return to the field on Sunday to host Northern Illinois. Kickoff at Scott Park is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
 
Western Michigan 3, Toledo 2
 
51' WMU LABADIE, Grace (3) KAHN Hannah
60' WMU KOHORN, Bailey (5) KYEAME, Roselyn
76' UT Scafaria,Hannah (9) Sidwell,Alena
79' UT Scafaria,Hannah (10) Rodriguez,Elbony
84' WMU MCKAY, Colleen (2) OTTESON, Morgan
 
Yellow:
27' Abby Demboski
85' Sophia Lewis
 
Winning GK: SARGENT, Hannah (9-2-0)
Losing GK: Perrin,Madison (4-4-1).