The Eastern Michigan University women’s soccer team traveled to the University of Toledo on Sunday afternoon and took a disappointing 1-0 loss to the Rockets, putting the Eagles in a bind as the post-season approaches.
Eagles (4-8-2, 1-4-1 MAC) goalkeeper Megan McCabe took the loss despite making five saves in her second start back from injury, while the Eagles mustered only three shots on goal. The Rockets (6-9-0, 2-4-0 MAC) had better luck, firing 15 shots and earning 4 corners.
The first half ended scoreless, but the Eagles best opportunity of the game came from a free kick in the 30th minute. The ball was placed 23 yards from goal as Madison Hirsch prepared to take the kick. A confident shot by Hirsch was taken, but the ball went right into Toledo goalkeeper Katie Wilson’s hands. A situation known all too well by the Eagles.
The Rockets outshot the Eagles 11-2 in the second half, and all the effort came to fruition for Toledo in the 70th minute, when the deadlock was broken seemingly out of nowhere. Toledo’s Brooke Maletic stared the counter attack that allowed forward Kiersten Johnson to go in on goal. Johnson took a shot on the far post, beating McCabe, and putting the Rockets up by 1 with 15 minutes to play.
Eastern Michigan were unable to create an opportunity for an equalizer and dropped its second game of the weekend.
“This was one of those games where we weren’t very good today, start to finish,” Eagles coach Scott Hall said following the defeat. “I think every year you have one of those, unfortunately it puts us in a bind.
“We lost our composure and we took a hard loss. We were kind of a half-step off, unfortunately a tough result for us today. We have five games to get things right until the end of the MAC season.”
Hall had one thing to say when it came to the Mid-American Conference tournament, and how his team could still get in.
“We need points.”
Looking Forward
The Eagles will continue their road trip through Ohio, playing against the Ohio University Bobcats and the Kent State Golden Flashes on Oct. 16 and Oct. 18, respectively. Eastern Michigan needs to pick up some points on the road, if the team wants to keep its postseason hopes alive.
