MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University Soccer Team kicked off their 2016 season with the MMU Invite. The Blue Angels (0-1) hosted their rival Alverno (1-0) for game one of the invite. The Inferno came away with a 6-3 win over MMU in the home opener.
The Blue Angels and Inferno traded position and possession for the first seven minutes of the game. That is when Jackie Vanderkolk from Alverno, broke away for her first of three goals she would score in the first half.
"I thought we were solid the first 8 minutes we connected and created some nice chances. After that we were a bit tentative and Alverno took advantage." Head Soccer Coach Jon Gulrajani added, "They were more assertive to the ball and put us on our heels. Jackie is a very solid player she is a tough match up, we knew we had to deny her the ball, but give them credit she found ways to get behind us and finish her chances. We were taken back by the score to end the half."
After the hat trick by Vanderkolk, the Inferno add two more goals by the end of the half to make it 5-0. Karina Salgado (So./Chicago, Ill.) had the only shot on goal in the first half for MMU as their opponent had 10 shots on goal in the frame.
The second half saw Becky Onan (Jr./Grafton, Wis.) come out of the goal and join the field. New comer Hannah Rose (Fr./ Jeromesville, Ohio) took over in goal for her first collegiate competition. The switch for MMU paid off big time for both Onan and Rose. Onan scored the first MMU goal to get the Blue Angels offense going. Meanwhile, Rose saved seven of the eight shots on goal in the second half.
The Blue Angels added two more goals on a few big plays started by some MMU newcomers. Kaeli Stellings (Fr./Beloit, Wis.) not only scored her first collegiate goal from a pass from Salgado, but Stellings also added an assist to Allison Klotz (Fr./Port Washington, Wis.) as Klotz tallied her first NCAA goal.
With a big second half, Head Soccer Coach Jon Gulrajani was not disappointed in the team's effort to open the season.
Coach Gulrajani after the game, "We had some solid performances tonight, I thought Hannah Rose made some solid saves in the second half in her first minutes. Kaeli Stellings got going in the second half and had some good moments. Allison Klotz had a nice strike from distance. Becky Onan settled us down in the midfield and started
the scoring with a long range blast. Tataya Luangphaxayachack came off the bench and really gave us a physical lift. The team showed their capabilities in the second half, we just need to keep improving and look to play all 90 minutes. Karina [Salgado] really covered a lot of ground in the midfield and connected passes much better in the second half finding that assist."
The second game of the MMU Invite saw Blackburn and Crown take the game past regulation. The game ended in a 2-2 tie after the darkness overwhelmed the field in the final minutes of the second overtime.
Day two of the MMU Invite, Sat. Sept. 3, will feature Crown against Alverno at 11:00 am. Mills will take on Blackburn to conclude the doubleheader and day two. The Blue Angels will conclude the Invite with a Sunday matchup against Mills beginning at 11:00 am. Watch the live stats at mtmaryatheltics.com.
