Lift Off: Toledo Women's Soccer Earns First MAC Title Since 2011
2017 MAC Women's Soccer Championship Central
2017 MAC Women's Soccer Bracket
Video: Championship Celebration
Video: Toledo Head Coach TJ Buchholz
Viedo: Toledo's Sophie Pohl
Box Score
KENT, Ohio - Senior forward Sophie Pohl found the back of the net with five seconds remaining in overtime to propel Toledo over Bowling Green, 2-1, in the Mid-American Conference's championship match on Sunday afternoon at Dix Stadium. The win gives the Rockets their conference-best fifth MAC Tournament Championship and clinches a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
With the clock winding down, sophomore Kelsey Kraft found Pohl on the left wing and Pohl was able to beat the Bowling Green keeper to the far post for her second goal of the match.
"It's been such a fun season and a fun ride," said Toledo head coach TJ Buchholz. "Every one of these players battled for each other and that's what it takes. They kept fighting and they kept bouncing back."
The Rockets (12-7-3) and the Falcons (13-7-1) played a highly competitive first half that was expected from the two rival teams. Both teams had chances with free kicks from just outside the box, but neither team could capitalize on the opportunity as the match was scoreless at the break.
In the 59th minute, Toledo tallied the opening goal. Junior Alena Sidwell found junior captain Regan Pricedown the right sideline. Price entered a perfect centering pass to Pohl, who tapped it in for the score.
However, BGSU battled back to tie the match less than 20 minutes later. First-team All-MAC selection Erica Hubert knotted the match, 1-1, in the 79th minute to keep the Falcons alive.
Kraft nearly regained the lead for the Rockets in the 84th minute before a great defensive play by Bowling Green stopped the attack. Neither team threatened in the final minutes of regulation.
The stage was set for Pohl's last-second heroics and the St. Charles, Ill. native delivered with the match-winner to the upper right corner.
"Sophie is phenomenal," continued Buchholz. "The plays that she made down the stretch were unbelievable. That's what she does and I am so proud of her."
UT out-shot the Falcons, 14-11, and had two more corner kicks, 3-1. Redshirt freshman Madison Perrin made four saves in goal for the Rockets to record her 12th win of the campaign.
Pohl was named the tournament MVP and was one of four Rockets named to the All-Tournament Team, along with Price, senior Chiara Paradiso and senior Isabella Echeverri.
With the win, the Rockets advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time. The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will take place tomorrow (Monday, Nov. 6) at 4:30 p.m.
2017 Women’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Alyssa Heintschel, Ball State
Paula Guerrero, Ball State
Jaime Eiben, Kent State
Kristen Brots, Kent State
Jennifer Reyes, Bowling Green
Rachel Winter, Bowling Green
Erica Hubert, Bowling Green
Regan Price, Toledo
Isabella Echeverri, Toledo
Chiara Paradiso, Toledo
Sophie Pohl, MVP, Toledo
Courtesy of Toledo Sport Information
