Soccer

MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary College soccer team has broken school records and smashed milestones all season. However, one goal in particular will remain intact for next year.

Despite a dominating first half in which Mount Mary jumped to a 4-1 lead, Alverno continued to chip away at MMC Soccer Field, scoring timely late-game goals to force overtime and eventually hold off the host Blue Angels, 5-4 in double overtime.

Sophomore superstar Emily Ristow (Sheboygan, Wis.) sent a message early, beating her defender for a goal in the third minute of the first half. Junior forward Rasika Perera (Oak Creek, Wis.) was assisted by freshman Cynthia Covarrubias (Milwaukee, Wis.) four minutes later as Mount Mary was hot out of the gate with an early 2-0 lead. Alverno responded, however, with a goal of its own in the ninth minute with a deep shot from straight on to close to within one. Perera received a perfect centering pass from senior Sarah McVey (Lake Zurich, Ill.) who sent it past the Inferno goalkeeper in the 23rd minute, and Ristow stretched the lead into a commanding 4-1 advantage right before the half, turning a stellar goal kick from junior Nina Her (Brown Deer, Wis.) into a breakaway goal for the Blue Angels.

Despite being outshot 12-5 in the first half, Mount Mary proved much more efficient. However, the Alverno pressure began to wear down the Blue Angel defense into the second stanza as the Inferno beat senior goalkeeper Kirby McMahon (Grayslake, Ill.) in the 52nd and 65th minute. It looked as if Mount Mary were going to hold off Alverno as the waning seconds ticked away, but an unassisted deep shot from the right side at the 89:26 mark leveled the game at 4 goals apiece, sending it into overtime.

Both teams were visibly fatigued entering the first five-minute overtime period as each team only managed one shot. Late in the second overtime, Alverno took advantage of its third corner kick of the period, netting a goal off the rebound that bounced perilously in front of the Mount Mary goal. With less than two minutes remaining, Alverno put the ball past McMahon to survive MMC's upset bid.

Despite the loss, head coach Joe Shokatz was very pleased with his team's effort. He said the comparison between when Mount Mary played Alverno earlier in the year and Wednesday's battle was like night and day.

Mount Mary will take its 8-6 overall record into the season finale Sunday, as it will host Wisconsin-Superior for an afternoon tilt.