The Blue Angels soccer team is preparing to play Andrews University for the second time this season. Game two of the series will be played at Mount Mary Field on Oct. 26th at 2:00 pm.
Along with a great rematch, the contest coincides with "Senior Night." The graduating class includes Nina Her (Sr./Brown Deer, Wis.) and Emily Ristow (Jr./Sheboygan, Wis.). Both have been on the roster since the 2012 season, and both have seen a lot of change on the team.
The seniors will be leaving the program in a step up from when they began. Just a year prior to joining the team in 2012, the Blue Angels went 0-13-1. This year MMU is at 5-9-2 and have a lot of bright spots on the team. For one, Nina Her has been instrumental in the success of the defense. Taking charge in the backfield and stripping the ball from defenders on the attack is the hallmark of Her's game.
Emily Ristow has been on a tear recently, scoring four goals in three of her last five games. Ristow is at her 69th career goal, and leads MMU all-time in goals scored. This year alone Ristow has knocked in 24 goals, and is second in the Association of Division III Independents.
Newcomer Becky Onan (Fr./Grafton, Wis.) has joined the success with the upperclasswomen, leading the AD3I in saves with 157. Marissa Rechlicz (Fr./West Allis, Wis.) has not just been dominant as a midfielder, but is fourth in the AD3I in saves with 72 as she has split time with Onan as goalkeeper throughout the season.
The last time the teams played, the game went into double overtime where it ended in a 2-2 tie. The disappointment of a tie hit the Blue Angels as they jumped in front of AU with a 2-0 lead at half, then surrendered the lead in the second half. The OT's for MMU yielded only two shots all together.
Following "Senior Night", MMU will head Waukegan, Ill. to face off with Robert Morris-Lake County. The rematch is set for Tuesday Oct. 28th at 2:30 pm.
