Rockets wrap up non-conference play with win
September 23, 2015
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The University of Toledo women’s soccer team finished up their non-conference slate of games with with a 2-0 win over Northern Kentucky on Sunday.
After dropping five straight games the Rockets (4-5) won their last three games heading into Mid-American Conference play on Friday.
“It’s a long season full of ups and downs,” said Head Coach T.J. Buchholz. “We struggled early but we’ve been playing great the past couple of weeks so we’re feeling confident now.”
The Rockets applied heavy pressure all game recording 23 shots with 11 on goal.
Freshman forward Italia Biondi made her first goal of her collegiate career for Toledo in the 33rd minute. NKU goalkeeper Brooke Schocker caught the shot but fell over the goal line to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead.
Junior forward Kiersten Johnson gave UT some insurance with a goal in the 73rd minute. Senior mid-fielder Geri Siudzinski placed a cross into the box where Johnson headed it into the back of the net for her team-high third goal of the season.
The defense was strong again for Toledo, allowing only two shots on goal for the whole match. Senior goalie Sam Tiongson recorded her second shutout of the season.
“Sam’s been a great leader for us in net,” Buchholz said. “She’s come up with big saves when we needed her to.”
Toledo will kick off conference play against Northern Illinois on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. They will travel to Western Michigan to resume play on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Heading into MAC play, the Rockets were projected to finish sixth in the west division by the league’s coaches. As of now, the Rockets hold the third-best record in the west division.
“The MAC is balanced,” Buchholz said, “Every team could win the conference. The margin of error is low for each team.”
The non-conference schedule helped the Rockets to prepare for conference play. Of the nine games the team faced in the past month, three were nationally-ranked teams in the AP Top 25.
“We had a tough non-conference schedule,” Buchholz said. “It makes us play our best but it also sees where you need work. The non-conference schedule has prepared us well.”
The MAC women’s post-season soccer tournament will be held Nov. 2, 7 and 9 at the University at Buffalo.
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