TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's soccer team opens its 2022 season with a pair of road contests this week. The Rockets will play at Dayton on Thursday evening before crossing state borders to play Big Ten foe Illinois in Champaign, Ill. on Sunday afternoon.

Thursday, August 18
at Dayton | Baujan Field | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ and Live Stats

Sunday, August 21
at Illinois | Demirjian Park | 1:00 PM (CT) | Live Stats

About Toledo
Toledo was recently picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference, according to the 2022 preseason poll released earlier today. The Rockets will look towards their seniors Ashton Cassel and Stephanie Currie to lead the team this season, along with 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year McKenna Schultz and second-team All-MAC honoree Olivia Dault. Cassel played all 20 contests last season at midfield while Currie had the team's second-highest shot total at 39, with 21 being on goal. Both Cassel and Currie contributed two goals while Dault had six. Schultz led the team with four assists and was the top defender in the conference.

A big addition to the Toledo roster is transfer Morgan Otteson from Western Michigan, who is predicted to see a lot of time on the field at the forward position.

About Dayton
Dayton ended the 2021 season on a four-match win streak that came to an end at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships semifinals match vs. Saint Louis (2-4). The Flyers posted an overall 12-6-2 record last season. This year, Dayton was picked No. 2 in the A10 preseason poll and 2021 Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year Itala Gemelli was named to the 2022 Preseason All-Conference Team. The junior forward paced the Flyers last season with 12 goals in 17 games played.

Dault had the game-winning goal for Toledo in the 1-0 victory over Dayton on Aug. 29, 2021. The Rockets' win over the Flyers was the first in program history.

About Illinois
Illinois will open its 2022 campaign vs. Illinois State on Thursday evening before taking on Toledo. The Fighting Illini ended the 2021 season 5-11-1 overall. One of the Fighting Illini's wins includes the 1-0 victory over the Rockets on Sept. 12, 2021. Three players from the Fighting Illini were named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch List on Monday: seniors Ashley Cathro, Kendra Pasquale and Eileen Murphy.

Follow the Rockets
Be sure to follow the Rockets' women's soccer team on social media:

• Twitter: @ToledoSoccer and @ToledoRockets
• Instagram: 'toledosoccer' and 'utrockets'
• Facebook: 'Toledo Soccer' and 'Toledo Rockets'