Toledo Tops Miami, 3-0, on Senior Day

October 2, 2011

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University's women's soccer team fell 3-0 to the Mid-American Conference's first-place team, Toledo, Sunday afternoon at Miami Soccer Field on Senior Day. The RedHawks (6-5-0, 1-3-0 MAC) have now dropped three straight matches for the first time since 2008 while the Rockets (6-5-1, 4-0-0 MAC) remain the MAC's only perfect team.

"We learned why Toledo's now 4-0 in the league and at the top," head coach Bobby Kramig said. "They're a very good team, very committed to what they're doing."

Miami played aggressively in the opening minutes, firing the first two shots of the game, but a Toledo goal by team scoring-leader Rachel MacLeod in the 15th minute put the Rockets ahead 1-0. The RedHawks tried to clear from their own zone, but MacLeod made a steal, took a step inside the 18-yard box at the right corner and placed a shot inside the left post.

The half would end with Miami behind by a goal, despite an even 5-5 count in the shots column. In the first period, Miami drove three shots on goal, but Toledo goalkeeper Vicki Traven made saves on each to keep the RedHawks off the scoreboard.

"We're a talented team, but I think we need to ratchet it up in terms of our competitive attitude," Kramig said. "Playing in the MAC is hard, and we have to work hard if we're going to win in the MAC."

The Rockets added another goal in the 51st minute with a header from Danielle Case off a corner kick that got through the Miami defense to the back post.

Toledo tacked on the final goal of the game with 15 minutes to play with a shot from 25 yards out by Megan Blake, who settled a deflection before firing the shot for the unassisted goal.

Toledo outshot Miami 14-11 in the game. Miami redshirt freshman keeper Allison Norenberg made five saves, matching a career high, while Traven stopped all seven RedHawk shots on goal. Sophomore Katy Dolesh and senior Giselle Mangal each placed two shots on goal to lead the Miami offense. UT also held a 3-2 edge in corners, earning all three in the second half, while the `Hawks had one each period.

"At the end I think we generated some chances, generated some offense," Kramig said. "I felt like we competed better today, at least in the first half, than we did against them early in the game last year. I was really disappointed to give up that second goal, but again all credit to Toledo's players."

Prior to the match, Miami's five seniors, Haley Clark, Courtney Clarke, Krysti Clarke, Sarah Dessfelt and Giselle Mangal were honored as part of the Senior Day festivities.

The RedHawks look to their three-game skid next weekend, Oct. 7 and 9, at Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. Friday's match with CMU begins at 4:30 p.m. while Miami takes on EMU Sunday at 1 p.m.

--MURedHawks.com--

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