NORMAL, Ill.— Senior midfielder Ashton Cassel scored three minutes into overtime to give Toledo a 1-0 victory over Illinois State on Sunday.

Just moments earlier, Illinois State's Sydney Smith was sent off with a red card, giving Toledo a player advantage. The Rockets quickly took advantage as sophomore forward Ellie Pool set up Cassel, who ripped her game-winner into the right corner of the net.

The victory moves Toledo to 5-1-2 while Illinois State falls to 2-8-0.

Toledo controlled play throughout the game and had several good chances to score in regulation. The best opportunity came with just over a minute left in regulation when Cassel's penalty kick was stopped by Redbirds' goalkeeper Priya Gillan.

Junior forward Stitch Currie led the Rockets with four shots while sophomore goalkeeper Emma Bouterwick picked up her fourth shutout of the season.

"Today was a great road challenge for our team," said Head Coach TJ Buchholz. "Illinois State has had some up and down results, but they are very good in the attack. I thought our defense played extremely well today and really kept Illinois State out of our 18 for most of the game. Offensively we pressed well and created some good chances. It was obviously difficult to not convert the late penalty kick, but I'm very proud of our team for not letting that bring us down. Especially Ashton, who missed the penalty kick, but found an opening to score the overtime goal. She is a tremendous leader.
 
"It's great to finish non-conference play with a win. Now we have to quickly shift focus to MAC play this Thursday."
 
Goals and Key Moments
8' | Ellie Pool sends a nice cross to Stitch Currie but her shot is blocked.
9' | Mia Leonetti's shot is blocked following a corner kick from Claire Cahalan.
17' | Claire Cahalan sent a shot just wide from 20' out for Toledo's fourth shot of game.
30' | Cahalan's free kick from just outside the box is blocked by a Redbird defender.
41' | Lafayette sends a shot wide from inside the box for ISU's best scoring opportunity.
48' | Olivia Dault registers Toledo's first shot of the second half but it goes right of the goal mouth.
53' | Ellie Pool scores on a header from a pass from Betsy Lueck but it is waived off due to offsides.
55' | Stitch Currie's shot from point blank range is stopped by the Redbirds' Priya Gillan.
63' | Redbirds' Allison Baker puts one off the crossbar on ISU's seventh shot of the game.
88 ' | Ashton Cassel is fouled in the box but her penalty kick is stopped by Gillan.
92' | ISU's Sydney Smith called for a red card, leaving the Redbirds with 10 players.
93 | Ellie Pool passes to Cassel who drives it into the right side of the net for the game-winner
 
Up Next
The Rockets open up Mid-American Conference play when they travel to Northern Illinois on Thursday, then return home next Sunday to host Western Michgian at Paul Hotmer Field for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. 

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