EUREKA, Ill. – Mount Mary University soccer forward Rasika Perera (JR/OAK CREEK, WI) had three of her seven shots find the back of the net as the Blue Angels blitzed NCAA Division III Eureka (IL) College, 5-1. The win was the first of the season for Mount Mary (1-4) while the Red Devils absorbed the loss in their home opener to fall to 1-5.
The Blue Angels got on the board first just 8:29 into the match. On a pass from Emily Ristow (JR/SHEBOYGAN, WI), the junior Perera found space on a run down the right side of the pitch and lobbed MMU's second shot attempt of the day over the head of Eureka sophomore goalkeeper Vickey Benhart and into the back of the net for a 1-0 edge.
Later in the half, Ristow got behind the EC defensive back line on a run down the left side before being taken down just inside the 18-yard box. She buried the ensuing penalty kick, doubling the lead to 2-0. Ristow made it 3-0 just three minutes later on shot from approximately 15 yards away into the far corner of the frame in the 27th minute.
Mount Mary needed less than eight minutes after halftime to make it a 4-0 advantage. Perera netted her second goal of the afternoon when she steered a shot from close range into the goal. The Red Devils were able to avoid the shutout with a goal at 77:43 by Kirby MeCaskey.
Perera would notch the hat trick for the visitors just 6:53 later, breaking free on a lengthy run along the left side of the pitch and successfully converting her seventh shot attempt of the day.
Eureka owned the shot column 35-12, however solid play between pipes by Ashley Leverenz (JR/MAUSTON, WI) kept the Red Devils at arm's length the entire afternoon.
The Blue Angels will go for two straight on Wednesday, September 18th when they play host to Concordia (Chi). that match is set to begin at 4:30p.
