MILWAUKEE – Today at Mount Mary Field, the host Blue Angels defeated Rockford University 4-1. The win over the Regents (2-9) gives the Blue Angels a 5-5 record and also sets the school season record for wins against NCAA opponents at five.
"I was impressed with the team's character, we had a tough game yesterday afternoon in Michigan and the team came back and really played well." High remarks from Head Soccer Coach Jon Gulrajani as the Blue Angels got their offense off and running early.
Two minutes into the game, Alexa Ahlgrim (Fr./Inverness, Ill.) placed a pass between defenders to Kaeli Stellings (Fr./Beloit, Wis.) who finished the play by avoiding a defender and the goalkeeper as she knocked in the game's first goal and giving MMU the lead.
Lucy Vue (Jr./Milwaukee, Wis.) set fellow Blue Angel Allison Klotz (Fr./Port Washington, Wis.) up with a long pass seven minutes later. Klotz controlled the pass and quickly worked around the goalkeeper as she flipped in the Blue Angels second goal of the game.
The Regents came back at the 30 minute mark as Lexie Collins knocked in the only goal of the game for Rockford.
Minutes later, Karina Salgado (So./Chicago, Ill.) drilled a corner kick to the middle of the 18-yard box as Klotz knocked in her second goal of the game.
Klotz finished her second hat-trick of the season ten minutes into the second half as she pounced on a stray clearing kick by the defense.
Vue, Salgado and Ahlgrim all received assists on the day as the Blue Angels are second in team assists in the Association of Division III Independents with 16.
"The team has been working really hard on staying in the moment and keeping solid focus and that showed to start the half Alexa [Ahlgrim] played a great ball in and Alli [Klotz] was in the right place to catch the keeper off her line."
As the rookie has already garnered an AD3I Player of the Week Award, Coach Gulrajani is happy with the forward's work so far. "Alli [Klotz] has been really good on the attack. She has a good knack for the goal and really strikes the ball well. She only needs a few chances in a game and today was no different she picked up another hat-trick."
"Credit Hannah [Rose] and the defense they did a great job controlling their attack and starting our attack with good passing. Really pleased we had a solid performance, and bounced back for a great team win."
The four save game for Hannah Rose (Fr./Jeromesville, Ohio) gives the goalkeeper a record of 5-4 on the season.
The Blue Angels will get ready to face Maranatha Baptist University Monday. Mount Mary Field will play host for the game on Oct. 3. For updates and scores for all your MMU Athletics, stay tuned to mtmaryathletics.com.
