Alverno Gets Edge Over EC Women's Soccer, 4-1

MILWAUKEE, Wis – The Eureka women's soccer team held its own, but it couldn't quite get it done in a 4-1 loss on a rainy afternoon at Alverno on Saturday. 

The Red Devils pushed the pace of the game early with their counter-attacking style of play. After a full-field run by freshman Madison Shines (Marengo Ill./Marengo Community), defender Michaela Mall (Princeton, Ill./Princeton) received the ball and drew a free kick right outside the Inferno 18-yard-box. It was Shines on the free kick, as she bent it around the wall but still within reach to be saved by the Alverno keeper Kenzie Bermudez. 

However, it was the Alverno women who struck first in the 10th minute of play. Angela Chobanian whipped in a cross from the left flank that found Alo Cervantes for a one-time volley into the back of the net, putting the Inferno up 1-0. 

In the 20th minute, Eureka equalized on a fantastic run from Shines. Goalkeeper Abby Swope (Canton, Ill./Canton) punted the ball out of her own box to midfield. After taking it away from Alverno's defense, Shines dribbled all the way down the field, using her speed to get by several defenders that eventually led to a far-post finish from about 12 yards out, leveling the game at 1-1. Shines now has a team-high two goals on the season.

In the 27th minute, however, the Alverno restored the lead to 2-1 after an EC defensive lapse. An Alverno corner kick found the foot of Katie Shipley, who was able to put the ball in the back of the net after a deflection off a Eureka defender.

In the 49th, Alverno added an insurance goal after a cross from Shaye Wolfe found the head of Jess Flores from about 15 yards out, making it 3-1.

Mall nearly brought the Red Devils back within one in the 52nd minute after stealing the ball away from the defense, but the shot came from a tough angle and went wide.

The Red Devils remained strong defensively almost the entirety of the second half until the 80th minute when Alverno's Andy Lopez made it 4-1 with 10 minutes remaining.

Swope (Canton Ill. / Canton) continued her brilliant form in the net for the Red Devils, making 16 saves and putting herself at 324 for her career -- third on the Red Devils' all-time list.

The Red Devils will look to bounce back tomorrow as they travel to Hancock, Michigan, to take on Finlandia at 11 a.m.