Mount Mary Gets Edge Over Eureka, 3-1

EUREKA – The Eureka women's soccer team fell short 3-1 against Mount Mary in its home opener at McKinzie Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Devils netted their first goal of the 2023 season in the fourth minute of the match, but the Blue Angels tied it midway through the first half, took the lead in the second half and put away one more in the final minutes to seal a two-goal win. It was Eureka's closest game of the fall so far.

Freshman Ashley Wilcox (Hudson, Ill./Normal West) put the maroon and gold on the board after Jurnee Flournoy (Decatur, Ill./Decatur MacArthur) played a long ball through the defense, creating a breakaway for Chloe Smith (Sullivan, Ill./Sullivan).

With only the keeper to beat, Smith fired from 12 yards out and hit the right post. The ball rolled back out to the opposite side, and Wilcox was there to send it home.

Eureka put four shots on goal on the game, but the Blue Angels fended them off the rest of the way. Wilcox, Elizabeth Rensman (Mechanicsburg, Ill./Sangamon Valley), Lainey Moore (Sullivan, Ill./ Sullivan) and Jaylah Dalton (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) each recorded a shot on goal in the loss.

Freshman goalkeeper Gabby Penberthy (Sullivan, Ill./Sullivan) had a strong day in goal for the Red Devils, recording 11 saves.

Mount Mary's Sam Reyes put away the visitors' first goal in the 29th minute after a through-ball allowed her to have a 1-v.-1 with the keeper. Kelley Duffey scored an unassisted goal that gave the Blue Angels the lead in the 59th minute, and Duffy set up Paris Berrosope's final goal with a pass across the box into space.

Eureka (0-4) will next host Elmhurst (3-2-1) at McKinzie Field on Wednesday at 6 p.m.