MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University ended their 2015 regular season with a 1-0 win over visiting Alverno. The victory over the Blue Angels longtime rival gives MMU a 3-16 record and sends the Inferno home with a record of 2-16.
From the beginning the Inferno and MMU traded possessions and positioning. When the Inferno would penetrate the first layer, the Blue Angels backline stepped up and disrupted a majority of the offensive opportunities.
Back and forth the entire time, the first half ended in a 0-0 stalemate. The Inferno fired off 13 first half shots, four of which were on goal. In contrast, the Blue Angels only got off three shots, two of which were on goal.
In the second half the teams continued to trade possessions and opportunities. MMU limited the second half shots to seven for Alverno, and continued to be patient looking for an opening. 82 minutes into the game Karina Salgado (Fr./Chicago, Ill.) got free from the defense and hit Ashley Pfeifer (Fr./Elkhart Lake, Wis.) in stride on a breakaway. With a defender draped all over Pfeifer, the forward hit the next gear and riffled a quick shot past Katelyn Bartlett's outstretched hands making it 1-0.
Head Coach Jon Gulrajani was delighted with the game winning goal. "Ashley, took a great pass from Karina and stayed really calm with her finish. Those two have been doing it all year and it just came at a great time in the match."
Following that the defense held on and denied each and every opening for the Inferno. Coach Gulrajani, "credit the defensive group they really stuck with it and battled all night and they stood firm defending the last 8 minutes."
Becky Onan (So./Grafton, Wis.) gets her third win of the season and her second shutout with eight saves on the day.
It was an important game for the Blue Angels on many levels. The win marks the first time since 2005 that the Blue Angels defeated Alverno. That is a 20 game losing streak snapped against a team that defeated the Blue Angels 4-0 earlier in the year.
"I am proud of this team because tonight is a reflection of the work they have put in all season, we have played hard in many games and been on the other side." Coach Gulrajani continued, "It feels good to have the team put a great effort and find a result."
The Blue Angels will await to find out their seeding for the Great South Athletic Conference tournament beginning Fri. Nov. 6th in Decatur, Ga. Keep posted to mtmaryathletics.com for updates.
