Toledo's Fast Start Enough to Get Past Women's Soccer, 1-0
10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's soccer team (1-9-4, 0-6-1 MAC) fell into a one-goal deficit less than a minute into its game against unbeaten conference foe Toledo Friday afternoon, and despite a valiant effort for the remainder of the game the Golden Flashes dropped a 1-0 decision to the Rockets at Zoeller Field.
"We kept (Toledo) under a lot of pressure and we took a majority of the game," said head coach Rob Marinaro. "But we didn't settle into the game, and Toledo took momentum to start the game."
After racing down the field on the kickoff and having a shot blocked over the end line, Toledo (11-2-2, 7-0-0 MAC) scored on the ensuing corner kick to take a 1-0 lead just 41 seconds into the game.
The Golden Flashes looked as if they settled into an offensive groove in the 20th minute, just as the weather turned from bright and sunny to overcast, blustery winds and rain. Junior Vanessa Salerno (Etobicoke, Ontario) cracked a hard shot from 30 yards out on the right, only to have it skip high by a slim margin.
Kent State continued to take advantage of the weather change, as the wind helped pin Toledo in their defensive end. In the 25th minute it was Kelly Heaton (Mississauga, Ontario) who took a turn at the goal after a perfectly placed pass by Salerno freed her on the left side. But her shot, too, was high of the mark.
In a game that featured plenty of corner kicks (each team had nine apiece), Kent State missed out on repaying Toledo in the final minute of the first half on a set piece. Sophomore Megan Repas (Avon, Ohio) threaded her corner kick through the Toledo defense from close range, but no one was able to get on the end of her serve.
Toledo looked to add insurance goals midway through the second half, but a pair of efforts were denied by the structure just one minute apart: the crossbar in the 57th minute and the left post on a free kick in the 58th minute.
Kent State's defense gave up just five shots in the second half, as Kelly Sherwood (Strongsville, Ohio) made two of the team's six saves in the stanza.
"Other than the first minute of play, we did very well defensively," said Marinaro.
With just over two minutes left in regulation, Kent State missed forcing extra time when the Flashes tried to convert on a free kick. Repas found herself with the ball inside the six-yard box, but her side volley went high of the goal.
"We had some composure in building the play up, but we weren't able to put one in," said Marinaro.
Kent State is back in action at home Sunday, Oct. 17 when the Golden Flashes host Ball State at 1 p.m. The game will serve as Senior Day for Kent State's six-player senior class.
