DEKALB, Ill. – An early goal helped Toledo to a 3-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Thursday evening, Sept. 23, in the Mid-American Conference opener at the NIU Soccer Complex. The Rockets tallied in the third minute and then twice after halftime to earn the victory.  

"In MAC play, every team is going to fight, and they are going to fight from start to finish," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "If you take your foot off the gas for one second you are going to get punished, most likely you are going to get punished, regardless of the opponent. I think that is a huge point of emphasis for us."

In the early moments of the contest, NIU (3-6-0, 0-1 MAC) had a chance to go in front as Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) sent a dangerous cross through the six-yard box, but Toledo goalkeeper Emma Boutorwick was able to pounce on it before the Huskies could get a chance on goal. 

Stephanie Currie opened the scoring for Toledo (6-1-2, 1-0 MAC) in the third minute. Currie outraced a Huskie defender to the ball near the top of the 18-yard box and slipped a low shot under NIU goalkeeper Sadie McGill (Fort Worth, Texas/North Texas) to give the Rockets an early lead. 

In the 35th minute, Amanda Czerniak (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) had a look at goal, but her low shot from outside the box went wide. 

Just before halftime, McGill made an outstanding save on a chance from the top of the six-yard box by Madison Medalle. The rebound fell to Caylee Jozefov who fired high as Toledo took a 1-0 lead into the intermission. 

The Rockets doubled their lead in the 63rd minute on a goal by Olivia Dault. A free kick from McKenna Schultz was played inside the six-yard box where it took a deflection and fell to Dault who put it in the back of the net to give Toledo a 2-0 lead. 

In the 82nd minute, Toledo added a third as Dault whipped a cross from the right side to the edge of the six-yard box where Jozefov was able to get above a NIU defender and flash a header past McGill to put the Rockets in front by three. 

McGill finished with five saves in goal for NIU. 

The Huskies will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 26, when they travel to Bowling Green. Kickoff against the Falcons is slated for 12 p.m.