This season has been filled with ups and downs. With a young Mount Mary University soccer team (2-6-1) flashing signs of brilliant play, yet adversely there are times where the inexperience of the youth gets the best of the players as they try to handle a new position. The young team will face crosstown rival Alverno College (0-8-1) Saturday Oct. 4th at 12:00 pm on Alverno Field as they try to get back their winning ways.
On the year, Marissa Rechlicz (Fr./West Allis, Wis.) has been asked to play all over the field. Helping out on defense, clearing the ball out, leading sweepers with accurate passes, managing the sideline throws and corner kicks, and why not a spell of goalie as well. The adjustment of moving Rechlicz around leaves the Blue Angels vulnerable in a lot of aspects across the pitch.
The most effective combination is when Becky Onan (Fr./Grafton, Wis.) is in goal, Rechlicz is at midfielder, and Nina Her (Sr./Brown Deer, Wis.) is in at defender. All the while pushing the ball up to Emily Ristow (Jr./Sheboygan, Wis.) and Ashley Lehnen (Fr./Sussex, Wis.) with big punts from Onan, or powerful lead passes from Rechlicz.
Ristow leads the Blue Angels with eight goals on the season; Rechlicz owns the lead in assists for MMU with three.
Onan has been working through an injury the previous few games, and it is uncertain whether or not she will see any action in goal on Saturday. Onan still leads the Association of Division III Independents with 109 saves this year, and at one point this season led all of NCAA Division III in that category.
The return to the "standard lineup" would be perfect timing as the Inferno lead the all-time series 10-0 over MMU, and have outscored the Blue Angels 13-0 in the last two matches. The defensive boost is what the Navy Halos will need to get ready for the tough schedule they have ahead.
Once the Inferno host the Blue Angels, MMU will head to Lakeland, Wis. to play another Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference team. This time Lakeland College will host the match set for Wednesday Oct. 8th with kickoff at 4:00 pm.
