TOLEDO, OH – Toledo suffered a 3-1 setback to Buffalo in Friday’s Mid-American Conference action at overcast Scott Park. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 3-8-0 overall, 0-3-0 in the league.

 

The Bulls (4-4-2, 1-2-0 MAC) jumped out to an early lead and hung on to claim a two-goal victory against cross-division foe UT, snapping an eight-match losing skid in the series dating back to 2005. 

 

UB wasted little time in putting the ball into the back of the net, as Megan Giesen scored her first goal of the season at 15:49. Giesen accepted a pass from teammate Karen McMahon approximately 10 yards out in the middle of the Toledo goalbox. The midfielder then quickly spun to her right to create a little bit of space between herself and the UT defense. With the advantage, Giesen fired a left-footed shot just out of the reach of diving sophomore goalie Sam Tiongson to tally today’s opening score.

 

Buffalo added to its lead on McMahon’s team-best second goal of the fall at the 22:46 mark in the opening stanza. The forward gained control of a loose ball about 30 yards from the Toledo end line and found herself unmarked. McMahon also noticed that UT’s Tiongson had come off her goal line so she launched a high shot that landed just inside the back post to make the difference 2-0 at the intermission.  

 

Toledo picked up the pace considerably in the second half and was presented with its first quality scoring opportunity with 31:43 left in regulation. Junior Kirsten Catloth made a nice run down the left side of the pitch and found sophomore Geri Siudzinski open from about 10 yards out in the heart of the UB goalbox. Siudzinski tried to hammer home a low shot but it was blocked by the interior of the Buffalo defense. 

 

After dodging a bullet at one end of the field, the Bulls retaliated with the help of a quirky bounce to build a 3-0 cushion at the 68:16 mark. UB’s Angel Hart played a high cross into the goalbox that UT’s Tiongson misplayed and the ball bounced over her head and rolled into the back of the net for her first tally of the season.

 

Facing a three-goal deficit, the Rockets took their offensive effort to another level and came within inches of breaking through on an attempt by senior Rachel MacLeod with approximately nine minutes left in regulation. MacLeod made her way past a couple UB defenders and had the inside track on the last line of the defense. Unfortunately for MacLeod and UT, she had her low shot kicked away by diving Buffalo netminder Ainsley Wheldon.

 

Toledo was not going to shutout though, and received a penalty kick score from junior Meghan Topolewski at 87:03 to make the final difference 3-1. Topolewski blasted a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the net to record her first goal of the year. The junior tri-captain received the penalty kick after a Buffalo defender was guilty of a handball in the penalty box. 

 

Despite the loss, Toledo finished with a 13-11 edge in shots and a decisive 11-1 advantage in corner kicks. Freshman Kiersten Johnson paced the Midnight Blue & Gold with three shots, while freshman Shelby Antonacci, MacLeod and Siudzinski had two shots each. Giesen and McMahon led the visitors with three shots each as well.

 

Tiongson went the distance between the posts and the second-year Rocket was called upon to make three stops.   

 

The Rockets return to action on Sunday, Oct. 6 when they host Akron. The opening whistle against UA is slated for 1:05 p.m. and will be carried live on the Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN).

 

Sunday’s contest has also been tabbed as “Bark in the Park” from the corner of Hill Ave. and Parkside Blvd. Rockets fans are welcomed to bring their pooches of all sizes, shapes and colors to the cross-division showdown versus the Zips. Be sure to dress the pooches in their cutest outfits so that they can strut their stuff during a halftime parade. Fans will choose the winner out of the Top Five best dressed dogs, and water bowls and designated potty zones will be present during the match.

 

Buffalo 3, TOLEDO 1

 

UB: M. Giesen (K. McMahon), 15:49

UB: K. McMahon (Unassisted), 22:46

UB: A. Hart (Unassisted), 68:16

UT: M. Topolewski (Penalty Kick), 87:03

 

SHOTS: UT 13, UB 11

CORNER KICKS: UT 11, UB 1

SAVES: UT 3, UB 3