Women’s Soccer Release Sept. 30, 2013

CONTACT: Brian DeBenedictis (419-530-4919)

For more information, please go to utrockets.com

 

Toledo Hosts Buffalo & Akron in Important MAC Weekend

 

TOLEDO, OH - Toledo looks to get back on the winning track this weekend when the three-time Mid-American Conference regular-season champions host Buffalo and Akron. The Rockets will tangle with the Bulls on Friday, Oct. 4 at 4:00 p.m., before taking on the Zips on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1:05 p.m. The match against UA 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.

 

The Midnight Blue & Gold has been picked to capture the MAC West Division crown according to the coaches’ preseason poll, while UA and UB are tabbed to finish fourth and fifth in the MAC East Division, respectively.

 

Last weekend, the four-time MAC tourney champions opened conference action with a pair of setbacks for the first time since 1999. Toledo suffered a 5-1 setback to Western Michigan on Friday and a 4-3 loss at Eastern Michigan two days later.

 

Senior Rachel MacLeod continues to top UT’s scoring charts with 18 points (eight goals, two assists), followed by freshman Kiersten Johnson (two goals, one assist) and freshman Brooke Maletic (two goals, one assist) with five points each. The 2011 MAC Offensive Player of the Year is currently first in the league in total points and goals, as well as ranking tied for first in match-winning scores and tied for ninth in shots (24). MacLeod has tallied a marker in five of the 10 contests in 2013, including one goal and one helper against the Eagles on Sunday. With this weekend’s effort, MacLeod has moved into third place in school history in career assists (16) and total points (74), while also sitting tied for third in goals (29) and fourth in shots (173).

 

As a team, UT is tied for third in the MAC in goals (17) and total points (49), fifth in corner kicks (44), tied for fifth in assists and 11th in shots (84).

 

On the backline, sophomore Sam Tiongson (3-5-0 record) and senior Kelsey Borowitz (0-2-0 mark) have both seen at least 200 minutes of match action in 2013. Tiongson has allowed 17 goals with 34 saves in 688:37 minutes (2.22 GAA) between the posts, while Borowitz has given up eight goals with 12 stops in 211:23 minutes (3.41 GAA). Tiongson is sixth in the league in saves and tied for eighth in shutouts (1).

 

As a unit, UT is fifth in the MAC in saves (46), tied for seventh in blankings (1), 11th in goals-against average (2.50) and 12th in goals allowed (25).

 

Buffalo begins the weekend with a 3-4-2 overall mark, 0-2-0 in the MAC. Last weekend, UB opened league play with a pair of 1-0 losses to Ball State on Friday and Miami on Sunday. The Bulls are led offensively by Kate Roberts (one goal), Karen McMahon (one goal), Jackie Hall (one goal), Sophie Therien (one goal), Megan Abman (one goal) and Kristin Markiewicz (two assists) with two points each. In goal, Ainsley Wheldon has played every minute and ranks first in the MAC in shutouts (4), third in GAA (0.71) and save percentage (.848) and tied for fourth in stops (39). Toledo has won the last eight matchups between the schools and leads the all-time series 12-5-1. Last fall, the Rockets claimed a 3-0 victory in Amherst.

 

As a team, UB is second in the conference in goals allowed (7) and GAA (0.71), tied for second in blankings (4), tied for seventh in corner kicks (38), eighth in shots (103), ninth in saves (39) and 12th in goals (5), assists (3) and total points (13).

 

The Zips, which play at Northern Illinois on Friday before traveling to Toledo two days later, begin the weekend with a 4-4-2 overall mark, 1-1-0 in the MAC. Last weekend, UA split a pair of contests at home, defeating the reigning conference champion RedHawks, 2-1, and losing to the Cardinals, 2-0. Sarah Sivic (four goals, four assists) and Lani Smith (five goals, one assists) pace the squad with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Sivic is tied for second in the MAC in helpers and tied for seventh in goals, while Smith is tied for first in contest-winning scores (2), tied for fourth in shots (29) and tied for eighth in goals. In goal, Klaire Adee has seen a majority of the action and is tied for eighth in the conference in saves (30) and ninth in GAA (1.57). The Rockets are unbeaten in the last four matchups (3-0-1 ledger) between the schools and lead the all-time series, 10-1-1. A year ago, UT claimed a 2-1 road triumph in the "Rubber Capital of the World."

 

As a team, UA is sixth in the MAC in shots (134), tied for sixth in goals (15), tied for seventh in assists (13) and saves (40), eighth in total points (43), ninth in goals allowed (18) and GAA (1.71), 11th in corner kicks (30) and tied for 11th in shutouts (0).

 

Following this weekend’s action, Toledo will travel to Central Michigan on Friday, Oct. 11 and arch-rival Bowling Green on Sunday, Oct. 13. The Rockets’ match against the Chippewas will start at 4:00 p.m. at the CMU Soccer Complex, while the contest versus the Falcons will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Cochrane Field.