MILWAUKEE- The Mount Mary University soccer team desperately fought for a victory through the mist and fog Tuesday afternoon but came up one goal short for the second time in five days, falling to Lincoln Christian University 3-2.
The Red Lions opened the scoring in the sixth minute on a ball that rattled around inside the Mount Mary box before finding the back of the net. However, sophomore Emily Ristow (Sheboygan, Wis.) leveled the game at 1-1 just 10 minutes later, breaking down the right sideline and beating the LCU goalkeeper.
Ristow's goal snapped a three-game scoreless streak for Mount Mary.
The Blue Angels' Achilles' heel has been their lack of consistent numbers all season long. Once again, a handful of players sent last-minute cancelations to head coach Joe Shokatz, forcing the second-year coach to retool his personnel placement with three fewer players on the field for the entire game.
For the first time since MMU's trip to Michigan, junior forward Rasika Perera (Oak Creek, Wis.) was able to see time on the field and her presence was felt immediately. The Red Lions keyed in on Perera—who often faced triple- and quadruple-teams Tuesday night with extra defenders already on the field—but the Blue Angels were able to possess the ball consistently in the first half, and put forth solid goal-scoring opportunities that have been lacking in her absence.
Tied 1-1 at the half, Mount Mary's eight players on the field seemingly wore down as they gave up two goals in the 59th and 65th minute. Ristow would answer with a breakaway goal up the right sideline as time expired, but it would not be enough as the Angels dropped their seventh straight game.
Senior Ashley Leverenz (Mauston, Wis.) took the loss, but was very strong in goal in tallying 16 saves on the night.
The Blue Angels will be back in action Friday as they travel to Rockford University to take on the Regents. Game time is scheduled at 4 pm in Rockford, Ill., before Mount Mary closes out its season with three straight home games.
