TOLEDO, OH - Toledo will play its final non-league match on Sunday, Sept. 16 when it hosts Missouri Valley Conference member Illinois State (3-2-2). The match with the Redbirds has been tabbed as "Family Day" with the opening whistle slated for 1:00 p.m. at Scott Park. Admission will be $7.00 for a family of four people. UT is 6-7-2 all-time in non-conference finales, including 4-6-1 under 12th-year Head Coach Brad Evans.

The Rockets will look to recover from a pair of tough losses at the Marriott Louisville Airport Classic in Louisville, KY over the weekend. UT suffered a 1-0 double-overtime setback against eventual champion Samford on Friday and a 3-1 loss against nationally ranked host Louisville two days later. The Midnight Blue & Gold held its own versus both the Bulldogs and the Cardinals, but the two-time reigning Mid-American Conference regular-season champions were unable to come away from a victory. Senior Natalia Gaitan and senior Kristen Mattei represented UT on the all-tournament squad. Gaitan played all 197 minutes on defense in the pair of weekend matches, while Mattei was on the pitch for 141 minutes in the midfield.

Offensively, junior Rachel MacLeod tops the UT scoring charts with six points (three goals), followed by junior Emily Tustin, sophomore Rio James and sophomore Sarah Seig with two points each (one goal).

Between the posts, sophomore Kelsey Borowitz and freshman Sam Tiongson continue to battle it out for playing time and each has shown flashes of brilliance when called upon. Borowitz (0-4-0 record) has seen action in 360:00 minutes, allowing eight goals (2.00 GAA),while making 11 saves. Tiongson (2-1-0 record) has accumulated 287:03 minutes in net, giving up three scores (0.94 GAA) with nine stops.

Illinois State enters Sunday’s contest on the heels of a 3-2 double overtime setback at Big Ten member Wisconsin on Sunday. 2011 NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region first-team honoree Rachel Tejada leads the Redbirds with nine scores and 19 points. ISU plays at Bowling Green on Friday before traveling to the "Glass City" two days later. Earlier this season, Illinois State blanked fellow MAC member Northern Illinois, 1-0, and most recently dropped a decision against Western Michigan, 2-1. The Redbirds were tabbed as the preseason favorites in the MVC, while Kristin Cooley, Anna Stinson and Tejada were named to the preseason all-league team. The Rockets and Redbirds will be meeting for the first time.

Following this weekend’s contest, Toledo will begin its quest to capture a third consecutive MAC regular-season crown on Friday, Sept. 21 at Western Michigan. The opening whistle is slated for 4:00 p.m. from the WMU Soccer Complex.

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