Women’s soccer bounces back with a win after loss

The Rocket women’s soccer team opened their home season at Scott Park, losing to Northern Kentucky 2-0 on Friday, then defeating Detroit 1-0 on an own goal in the 81st minute. UT is standing at 2-3 after this weekend’s games.

Sophomore goalie Kiersten Wilson led the way on Friday with three saves, including two tremendous efforts in the opening minutes to keep the game scoreless.

Northern Kentucky controlled the ball most of the first half outshooting Toledo 7-3. They broke through with a goal in the 28th minute as Ally Perkins drilled an unassisted corner kick.

The Norse had the advantage on corners all day as they got five and UT managed only one.

It did not take long for Kentucky to add another as Sami Ratowski hit Samantha Duwell behind the net then she chipped one in over Wilson’s head and under the crossbar.

The Rockets attempted a comeback in the second half managing five shots to three by Northern Kentucky, with neither team getting a good look at the goal.

Junior Isa Echeverri led the offense with three shots in her second match back with UT. The team only got two shots on goal.

UT bounced back on Saturday, however, as a cross from sophomore Alena Sidwell found the back of the net off a Detroit defender in the 81st, which proved to be the difference in the game.

Wilson posted three more saves in her first clean sheet of the season and the fifth of her young career. Senior Kiersten Johnson, senior tri-captain Brooke Mellatic and Sidwell all recorded two shots each.

The Rockets were on the ball most of the first half, getting five shots to three by Detroit, but neither team managed to make it close.

Detroit shot six times in the second half in an attempt to break the tie, but could not get one in. Then, in the last ten minutes of the game, they made the fatal mistake of an own goal.

Toledo still did not do well in the corner kick department only getting three as Detroit had six corners. However, the Rockets were the more aggressive team, committing fourteen fouls overall.

The midnight blue and gold return to the pitch at home as they take on Cleveland State Friday, September 9 at 4 p.m.