Toledo Falls to Western Michigan 3-1 in Regular-Season Finale

Thursday, October 26

Kalamazoo, Mich.

3:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

7-9-2, 4-6-1

Western Michigan

12-3-3, 8-0-3

Toledo

Western Mich.

Sophomore Brooklyn Whitehead netted her third goal of the season in Thursday’s loss in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Photo by: Evan Procaccini

Toledo Falls to Western Michigan 3-1 in Regular-Season Finale

10/26/2023 5:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

Rockets end the season with seven victories, a five-win improvement over last year

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Toledo scored first but ultimately fell to first-place Western Michigan, 3-1, in Kalamazoo on Thursday afternoon in the regular-season finale for both schools.

The loss knocked the Toledo (7-9-2, 4-6-1 MAC) out of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, which begins on Sunday. For Western Michigan, the victory clinched an outright regular-season MAC title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

Sophomore Brooklyn Whitehead scored the opening goal barley four minutes into the game, giving Toledo confidence that it could upset the Broncos and earn a spot in the league playoffs. But Western Michigan tied the game going into halftime and then scored two more in the second half to end the Rockets' season.

Toledo ends the 2023 season with seven wins, five more than in 2022 when the Rockets went 2-10-6.

"I am very proud of this group," first-year head coach Mark Batman said. "The team gave us everything they had. They have made tremendous improvements in a short amount of time. This is just the start, and we are so excited about the direction of this group. A special thank you to our seniors and our fifth-year players too. They welcomed us in with open arms and I'm sure that was not easy for them, but we are so grateful for them."

Goals and Key Moments

4' | Senior Emily Mann took a shot from 18 yards out and sophomore Brooklyn Whitehead headed the ball to the back of the net and put Toledo on the board, 1-0.
8' | Western Michigan's Madison Cotta was awarded a free kick and her shot to the top right corner was deflected off the crossbar
17' | WMU's Bria Telemaque had a chance to tie the game, but her shot was kicked by senior Rylee Michaels before it could cross the goal line.
23' | Western Michigan tied the game at 1-1 on a goal by Jen Blitchok.
44' | Redshirt freshman Brielle Young made a huge diving save for the Rockets at the right post to reject Jaden Peck's shot and keep the game deadlocked.
55' | WMU took a 2-1 lead off a Blitchok header from inside the box.
75' | The Broncos pushed ahead 3-1 with a goal by Jenna Blackburn.