For the 2014 Blue Angels soccer team finale, Mount Mary University will host Alverno College Thursday. The game is set for Oct. 30 2014 at 3:30 pm and will be played on Mount Mary Field.
This will be the twelfth installment of the series between the teams since MMU's NCAA era. The Inferno have the series 11-0, with a big victory earlier in the month, 9-1. Jackie Vanderkolk (So./New Berlin, Wis.), of the Inferno, did her Emily Ristow (Jr./Sheboygan, Wis.) impersonation and scored four goals in the game. Marissa Rechlicz (Fr./West Allis, Wis.) finished the game with 16 saves, but the Inferno just dominated the time of possession and created multiple openings with an understaffed Blue Angels team. Ristow scored the lone goal for MMU in that contest.
Since the visit to Alverno Field, the Blue Angels have turned it around going 5-2-1 in that time. It has been defense that has really separated MMU in their victories. Yes, Emily Ristow has been on an offensive tear scoring 17 goals in those eight games, but the defense has pitch four shutouts.
The defense has a lot to do with the pair of goalkeepers Coach Joe Shokatz can turn to at any point. Becky Onan (Fr./Grafton, Wis.) leads the Association of Division III Independents with 168 saves, and slowing down the opposition on the field as well as the goal box, Rechlicz is fourth in AD3I with 72 saves.
The rematch on Thursday will conclude not only the 2014 season, but two of the Blue Angels NCAA careers. Nina Her (Sr./Brown Deer, Wis.) a defender who can control the ball all over the pitch and has three goals on the season, and Emily Ristow who now leads all Blue Angels in history with 75 career goals. We are all grateful to have witnessed their great careers at Mount Mary University, Thank you Nina and Emily!
