EUREKA, Ill. – The Mount Mary University Soccer Team won their first game of the 2016 season tonight against Eureka College (0-1) at Traister Field. The Blue Angels defeated the Red Devils 5-1 to make MMU 1-2 on the season.
After a tough 0-2 start in the MMU Invite on Labor Day weekend, the Blue Angels came out firing on all cylinders against the Red Devils. Much like the last two games, Becky Onan (Jr./Grafton, Wis.), last year's starting goal keeper, got the offense started.
At the 29 minute mark, Onan fired in the Blue Angels first goal of the game. Four minutes later, freshman Kaeli Stellings found the back of the net making it 2-0 quickly.
MMU still on the attack, Karina Salgado (So./Chicago, Ill.) setup Stellings for her second goal of the half. Salgado found a way to add one more goal as the time in the half was winding down making 4-0 as the teams headed into the locker rooms.
With a four goal deficit, the Red Devils setup Mecayela Monroe coming right out of halftime.
The score at 4-1, both teams traded possessions until the clock hit 60:25, and new comer Paloma Aguilera (Fr./Milwaukee, Wis.) knocked in her first goal of the season to put the game out of reach at 5-1 where it ended.
MMU outshot Eureka 27-7 in the game, with 10 shots on goal for the Blue Angels and four for the Red Devils.
Head Soccer Coach Jon Gulrajani on his team's performance, "I'm very proud of the group, we took a really nice step forward today. We have been playing well in spurts and tonight we played a complete game. We were aggressive from the start and really were more composed in the final third."
As the Blue Angels held the Red Devils to four goal shots, coach Gulrajani was pleased, "I give the defense credit they really limited eureka to a few dangerous chances. I thought Kaeli really had a solid game, she was more active creating and finished her chances well. Karina, Becky and Allison did a nice job controlling the middle and finding chances to get forward and score and set up others well. Overall a great team win, excited we improved off the weekend hopefully it gives us some confidence and momentum for this weekend."
Following tonight's game, the Blue Angels will travel back to Milwaukee to prepare for their game against Wisconsin Lutheran College Fri. Sept. 9 at 7:00 pm. Live stats and video will be available for the game. Check out mtmaryathletics.com for more updates.
