TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's soccer team begins the second half of its 2021 spring schedule when it travels to DeKalb, Ill. for a 4:00 p.m. (CT) matchup vs. Northern Illinois on Sunday, March 28. The Rockets dropped a 2-1 (OT) decision to the Huskies at Paul Hotmer Field on March 7.

Sunday, March 28
at Northern Illinois, 4:00 p.m. (CT) | Live Stats

ABOUT TOLEDO
The Rockets (0-4-1) played to a 1-1 (OT) tie at Western Michigan in their most recent outing last Sunday. Toledo has been competitive throughout this season, dropping one-goal decisions at home vs. Central Michigan (2-1) and NIU (2-1) as well as on the road at Eastern Michigan (3-2).

"It has been a tough start for our team this season, but our girls are gaining confidence and playing well together," Head Coach TJ Buchholz said. "We have a young group that is becoming more experienced and possesses a strong mentality. We can definitely use our result at WMU last Sunday as an opportunity to build on finishing the second half of our season strong." 

Toledo has utilized a youthful lineup this season. Six freshmen (redshirt Emma Boutorwick, Caylee Jozefov, Rachel Kraysovic, Emily Mann, Ellie Pool  and Grace Turski) and five sophomores (Stephanie Currie, Vanessa Jones, Rylee Michaels, Brooke Stonehouse and Maddie Wilhoite) have started at least one game.

Senior Sophia Lewis, junior Anita Mancini as well as Currie, Pool and Stonehouse have netted the Rockets' goals with junior Ashton Cassel notching a team-best two assists. Boutorwick has started all five games for the Rockets in net and has a 1.90 goals-against average and .667 save percentage.

SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois (1-4-0) has suffered three consecutive setbacks since its win over Toledo with senior Haley Hoppe and freshman Kierah Meier scoring the team's only two goals. Junior Julia Lentz (1.98 GAA) and senior Megan Donnally (2.00 GAA) have split time at goalkeeper for the Huskies.

ROCKETS VS. NIU
Toledo leads its all-time series vs. NIU by a 16-8-2 margin but saw its four-match winning streak vs. the Huskies end with its 2-1 (OT) defeat on March 7. 

2021 SPRING SCHEDULE
Due to COVID-19 and moving their fall season to the spring the Rockets will be playing only 10 conference games. The Mid-American Conference has split its 12-member league into East and West divisions. Toledo is playing each team in the West (BSU, EMU, CMU, NIU and WMU) at home and on the road. The winners of each division will meet on April 17 for the MAC Championship game at a location to be determined.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Rockets will host Ball State on Wednesday, March 31 before heading to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. to battle Central Michigan on Sunday, April 4. Both contests will begin at 1:00 p.m.