Toledo Falls to Western Michigan in MAC Opener, 5-1

 

TOLEDO, OH - Toledo dropped a 5-1 decision to Western Michigan in Friday’s Mid-American Conference opener at Scott Park. With the setback, the Rockets fall to 3-6-0 overall, 0-1-0 in the league.

 

The Broncos (3-3-2, 1-0-0 MAC) scored two goals in the first half and three after the intermission to snap UT’s four-match unbeaten streak in conference openers (3-0-1 mark).

 

Nicole Hatcliffe led the victors with two goals off the bench, while teammates Audrey Sudomier amd Gina Maddi were credited with one score and one assist each. WMU’s Kylie Nylen also found the back of the net to hand the Midnight Blue & Gold its worst MAC loss since a 4-0 setback at Ohio on Oct. 26, 2003.

 

WMU began the scoring on an unassisted tally by Sudomier at the 38:26 mark. The Broncos’ forward juked out a Toledo defender along the right side of the pitch to create some space for herself. Sudomier then launched a shot from approximately 20 yards out that sailed over the head of UT sophomore keeper Sam Tiongson and into the back of the frame for her second goal of the year.

 

Less than three minutes later, Western Michigan doubled its advantage on the first of Hatcliffe’s two tallies at 41:14. Off a corner kick, Hatcliffe found a hole in the Toledo defense and knocked home the cross from Maddi to make the difference 2-0 at the break.

 

Following the intermission, the Broncos’ Maddi tickled the twine for the second time in 2013 at the 54:20 mark. Teammate Rachel Chaney did the bulk of the work on the play, as she dribbled past a couple of UT defenders and maintained possession deep into the goalbox. Chaney then found an open Maddi just feet from the Toledo goal line, who promptly slammed a shot into the goal.

 

Unfortunately for the Rockets, the visitors were not done attacking and perfectly executed a free kick from the left side to set the score at 4-0 at 58:14. Sudomier played a ball into Nylen into the middle of the Toledo goal box. Nylen out-jumped the Toledo defense and hammered home the cross for her second tally of the fall.

 

WMU’s Hatcliffe then finished off its scoring with her second goal of the afternoon at 73:58. She caused a turnover deep in Toledo territory and found herself all alone with Tiongson about 15 yards from the end line. She made a quick move to try and shake Tiongson before firing a shot that ended up in the back of the net for her third score of the season.

 

The Rockets would not go quietly and broke up the shutout on freshman Shelby Antonacci’s second score of the year at 78:18. Antonacci headed home a corner kick from sophomore Geri Siudzinski just inside the far post to set the final difference at 5-1.

 

WMU finished today’s MAC opener with a 16-3 edge in shots, including a contest-best four off the foot of Maddi. Senior Rachel MacLeod, freshman Kiersten Johnson and Antonacci were credited with the shots for UT.

 

The Rockets will look to bounce back on Sunday, Sept. 29 when they travel to Eastern Michigan. Kickoff for that match against the Eagles is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Scicluna Field.

 

Western Michigan 5, TOLEDO 1

 

WMU: A. Sudomier (Unassisted), 38:26

WMU: N. Hatcliffe (G. Maddi), 41:14

WMU: G. Maddi (R. Chaney), 54:20

WMU: K. Nylen (A. Sudomier), 58:14

WMU: N. Hatcliffe (Unassisted), 73:58

UT: S. Antonacci (G. Siudzinski), 78:18

SHOTS: UT 3, WMU 16

CORNER KICKS: UT 5, WMU 4

SAVES: UT 6, WMU 1