CARLINVILLE, Ill. – The Alverno soccer team recorded its first win of the young 2019 season as the Inferno knocked off the Blackburn Beavers by the score of 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Shaye Wolfe returned to her freshman season form as she scored her first two goals of the season and also tallied an assist to give her five points to lead the way for the team. Also on the scoresheet, was junior Jess Flores, who tallied three points with her first goal as a member of the Inferno, while also assisting on one of Wolfe's two goals.
In goal, freshman Kenzie Bermudez registered her first career clean sheet as she made 13 saves on the match to improve to 1-1-0 on the season individually.
As a squad the team was outshot by the Beavers by a 29-25 margin, but Bermudez' play in goal coupled with a strong defensive outing helped the Inferno to its first shutout of the season. Last year Alverno had a pair of shutouts, including its second match of the season against Eureka, as well as the season finale against Rockford. The 3-0 win over Blackburn was also an improvement from last season's 2-1 victory on September 15.
It was freshman Katie Shipley to get the offense cranking as she recorded the first shot of the match just 70 seconds into the contest. Wolfe took a header that went wide before a counter attack by Blackburn was thwarted by Bermudez, who made her first save of the match early in the 10th minute.
After a shot by Blackburn was blocked by Alverno's defense, the Inferno quickly made their way on a counter-attack as Flores found Wolfe, who buried the ball for her first goal of the season.
Bermudez made several more saves over the remainder of the first half to keep the Beavers in check, while Alverno's offense was able to generate a few more chances as Flores tallied a trio of shots, while Flores took a pair of shots, and a chance by freshman Caitlin Laurenson was blocked by the defense.
As play progressed into the second half, Alverno extended its lead in the 54th minute as Flores notched her first goal as a member of the team, and first since her freshman season at Cardinal Stritch. Wolfe had the helper on the Flores tally to put the Inferno ahead by a pair.
Bermudez continued to keep the Beavers in check despite several scoring opportunities by Blackburn. As play crossed into the 66th minute, Wolfe notched her second of the match to put the game out of reach as Alverno took a 3-0 lead.
Alverno was able to hold off Blackburn in the final 24 minutes as the Inferno notched their first victory of the season.
As a team, the Inferno took 25 shots with 12 of those coming on target. Wolfe led the team with five shots on goal, while Flores had four shots on target. Shipley put a pair on frame, while sophomore Angela Chobanian played all 90 minutes and took one shot on the match that was also on target. Rookie Andy Lopez got in on the offensive flurry with one of Alverno's 25 shots, while Laurenson's pair of chances were off-frame.
Alverno (1-1-0) will have over a full week off before its next game as the Inferno will play its 2019 home opener on Sunday, September 8 at 1 p.m. against the UW-Superior Yellowjackets.
