UT wins two over weekend, moves into position for postseason play

The University of Toledo women’s soccer team earned a pair of victories over the weekend to make a final push for the eight spots in the Mid-American Conference post-season tournament.

UT shutout Ohio at home with 3-0 on Friday before capturing an exciting 2-1 overtime victory over Kent State during senior day on Sunday.

With the victories, the Rockets improved their record up to (8-11, 4-6 MAC) and currently hold the seventh seed for the MAC tournament going into the final game of the season Thursday at Central Michigan.

In the game against Ohio, the Rockets controlled the pace by applying heavy pressure to the Bobcat defense. UT outshot OU and did not allow Ohio to record a shot on goal. Ohio goalkeeper Taylor Smith was kept busy, recording 12 saves on the night.

Toledo’s junior Sophie Pohl opened up the scoring in the 75th minute with her fourth goal of the season. Shortly after in the 78th minute, junior Brooke Maletic added some insurance with a goal off a blocked save, finding the left corner of the net for her second goal of the season.

“We played well enough to win and we had some great goals,” said Head Coach T.J. Buchholz. “We’ve had a lot of shots this season but haven’t always been rewarded with a goal so it was a building experience for our team to be able to get a lot of shots and a lot of goals.”

The Rockets weren’t done.

On Sunday, UT shocked the Golden Flash behind the brace of Echeverri in the final home game of the 2015 season.

After a scoreless first half, Echeverri would open up the scoring for the Rockets with the first goal of her brace in the 67th minute. She collected the ball after it rebounded off the crossbar and fired it in for her fifth goal of the season.

“(Isa) really turned it on,” Buchholz said. “She’s just started to really have a big impact offensively which is really nice — and most importantly she’s really been clutch.”

Kent State answered back with a goal from Doni Capehart in the 76th minute to tie the game and force overtime.

Just five minutes into the overtime period, sophomore Regan Price was fouled in the box earning a Rocket penalty kick.

Echeverri stepped up to take the kick and blasted the ball past the KSU keeper to give Toledo the win.

“Our seniors have had a great career and it was fun to see them get that win,” Buchholz said. “I think our girls really came to play against a really good Kent State team and to send them off with a final win at Scott Park was special.”

It was a more competitive game than the last one as shots were more even. Toledo outshot their opponent 11-10 and had seven shots on goal compared to Kent State’s 3 shots.

The Rockets will conclude their regular season on Thursday, Oct. 29 when they travel to take on Central Michigan at 3 p.m.

Toledo needs a draw or a win to clinch a spot in the MAC tournament.