Oct. 1, 2010
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio soccer matched Toledo shot for shot, but it was the Rockets that managed to convert when they needed as the `Cats fell 2-0 in their Mid-American Conference home opener Friday.
The Green and White (3-5-2, 0-2-1 MAC) equaled perennial conference power Toledo in shots with 12 apiece, including landing seven on goal. The Rockets (7-2-2, 3-0-0 MAC), however, managed to convert on opportunities in the 15th minute and later in the 56th minute to take the win.
"Give a lot of credit to Toledo," Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. "They got to the ball well and capitalized on their chances. It's a game of inches. Just a little better timing and striking, and we could have had some things. We need to be a little bit more composed, get to the ball quicker and move it around."
Kelsey Pichel (Rochester Hills, Mich.) paced Ohio with three shots on the day, including two on goal. Toye Famodu (Bloomington, Minn.) and Natalie Bechtel (Westlake, Ohio) each recorded two shots, with one on goal. Mattie Liston (Lakewood, Ohio) tallied seven saves in goal for the `Cats.
Action was fast and furious early on as both sides came out firing. Ohio had a close call early on a rip from Rachael Goulding (Toronto, Ontario), but the Toledo keeper stepped in front to collect it. The Rockets put the pressure on over the next few minutes and managed to get on the board midway through the 15th minute when Brittany Hensler chipped a shot that just managed to bounce just over the keeper's head and into the net.
Ohio responded with a series of shots of its own, but was unable to get on the board. Toledo's Vicki Traven made a couple of nice saves in the series, including a diving stop to the left on a ball headed for the back corner of the net. The Rockets took control of the possession from there, but Ohio's defense held strong as Liston collected a pair of saves. Both sides went back and forth at each other the rest of the half.
Toledo recorded eight shots in the frame, while the `Cats put six on the board, including landing five on goal.
The Green and White came out firing to start the second stanza, but the Rockets' defense wouldn't budge. Toledo managed to take advantage of a breakaway in the 56th minute after a long pass from Natalia Gaitan. Kristen Lynn was then able to get a one-on-one with the keeper and knocked it just out of reach for the Rockets' second score of the day.
Late in the 68th minute, Ohio had a chance to get on the board, but Pichel's rip was saved by the Toledo keeper. The `Cats continued to push and had a pair of chances close together in the 80th minute, but the Rockets managed to block one away and the other sailed just wide of the goal. Bechtel made a nice move to get behind Toledo's defense early in the 81st minute and get a one-on-one with the keeper, but her shot was just a little strong for the goal. The Green and White continued to push, but the Rockets' defense was able to hold up to keep Ohio off the board the rest of the way.
Ohio will return to play Sunday as it plays host to Ball State. First touch is set for 1 p.m.
