MILWAUKEE – After finishing the 2014 season winning four out of five games, the Blue Angels soccer team continues to have something to celebrate. The team was filled with remarkable individual efforts, and as such have been rewarded with multiple conference honors.
Emily Ristow (Jr./Sheboygan, Wis.) finished her MMU career at a ridiculous pace. Scoring four goals in four separate games this year, and taking care of 75 percent of the teams goals. It is not a surprise that Ristow was named the Association of Division III Independents Co-Offensive Player of the Year. An astonishing accomplishment considering that Ristow shares the honors with Cansu Usta of St. Joesph's College, and Usta tied the NCAA record for goals in a season.
Ristow not only took Co-Offensive Player of the Year, but was named to the AD3I All-Conference First Team as a forward. Ristow finished the year with 5 assists, 69 points, five game winning goals, and 32 goals.
Not only is the offensive side of the ball represented by MMU, but in goal as well. Becky Onan (Fr./Grafton, Wis.) received multiple awards this season. Onan has been a pillar of the Blue Angels defense recording 191 saves in her time as goalkeeper. Onan led AD3I in saves and finished sixth in NCAA DIII. The performance from Onan earned her AD3I Co-Goalkeeper of the Year and AD3I Co-Rookie of the Year. Along with her awards for outstanding play, Onan was also elected to the AD3I All-Conference First Team as goalkeeper.
In her rookie season, midfielder Marissa Rechlicz (Fr./West Allis, Wis.) did whatever was necessary to help the team. Aside from sharing time in the goal with Onan, Rechlicz was an essential part to the team's offense. Rechlicz finished with 11 assists good enough for second overall in AD3I. Along with three goals, Rechlicz was a staple in the transition from defense to offense, which was another reason Rechlicz was named to the AD3I All-Conference First Team as a midfielder.
The accomplishments demonstrate the positive momentum the team is building going into the 2015 season. With six separate awards being given out to MMU players, the future is looking bright for the young team.
Read more on AD3I 2014 Awards here.
