The 2014 Mount Mary University soccer team went 7-10-2 this season. This year's team saw many changes take effect, including a new look defensively, which relayed well to a potent offense at times. Although there were multiple standout performances by lone Blue Angels, MMU found a way to come together and play as a cohesive team which is why the team improved from 2013 campaign.
It was a tough start to the season, the Blue Angels hosted a four team invitational and lost both games with a combined score of 16-1. In the first match Crown College took control of the ball and outshot MMU 52-5, a school record was set for CC as Megan Wright scored six goals in the contest. The resilience of the team shined through as a few weeks later, MMU matched up against Crown, and while they lost 2-1, the Blue Angels defense prevented Wright from scoring, and held CC to only 27 shots.
Throughout the season Coach Joe Shokatz was motivated to keep his squad healthy, "After our disastrous season in 2013 where we lost three players to season ending injuries, as well as two girls to lengthy injuries, we wanted to stay healthy. That meant at times to tone down our training to maintain our health. "
The fact is, the Blue Angels only had to deal with a few stints of injuries. Becky Onan (Fr./Grafton, Wis.) was leading the Association of Division III Independents, and for a brief span led NCAA DIII in saves, then Onan was derailed by a nagging injury against Andrews University. The injury lasted only a few matches; and in the interim against some difficult opponents Marissa Rechlicz (Fr./West Allis, Wis.) stepped up and learned quickly how to tend an NCAA goal.
As Rechlicz learned, Coach Shokatz found he had another stellar goalkeeper, although Rechlicz gave up a few goals, she ended the season fifth in AD3I in saves at 72. Once Onan returned from injury, Rechlicz returned to midfield where she led the Blue Angels in assists at 11, second in AD3I overall.
Onan's season was a mirror of what MMU as a team did throughout the season. With some difficult stretches early on, the team got healthy and came back to finish strong on the season. Once back as starting goalkeeper, Onan paved her way to a 191 save season which finished first for AD3I and top ten in NCAA DIII.
The end of the season saw an unbelievable outburst of offense by the already prolific scoring Emily Ristow (Jr./Sheboygan, Wis.). Starting the first games with a productive eight goals in her first nine games, the Ristow clinic took place in her final nine games as she scored 24 goals in that time.
In the first game against Finlandia University, the Lions defeated MMU 5-0. In the rematch, Ristow took matters into her own feet scoring four goals as the Blue Angels went on to defeat Finlandia 4-0 in a big turnaround victory. Starting with that four goal outburst, Ristow duplicated that feat as she scored four goals in four of her next five games.
As the season came to a close, the Blue Angels finished up their four game winning streak in time to play Milwaukee rival Alverno College. Although MMU could not turn around and defeat the Inferno in the second match like they did against all other rematches this year, the Blue Angels prevented one less goal and let the "seniors" take care of the scoring. Ristow scored both goals, but took one of those goals off of a great pass from Nina Her (Sr./Brown Deer, Wis.), who ended the season fourth in AD3I in assists with seven.
When the dust settled, the Blue Angels finished 7-10-2, and Ristow would finish first all-time in MMU career goals with 77. Coach Shokatz is quite encouraged by the accomplishments, "Emily set school records and those will stand for a long time. The fact that Ristow and Becky [Onan] were both nationally ranked in statistics for their position, is great for recruiting. It can be done, and I hope our Affiliation recognizes both of those young women with the awards they deserve."
It was a season of ups and downs, but the Blue Angels stuck together and finished strong after a tough start. Coach Shokatz with some final thoughts on the 2014 roster "I will miss the fun that we had. We had a great group of girls who had fun. I always told myself and tell recruits, if you aren't having fun, it is not worth all the effort and dedication. This year I had fun…"
