Alverno College

EUREKA, Ill. – The Alverno soccer team opened its 2021 season in dramatic fashion on Friday evening, downing the Eureka Red Devils by the score of 2-1 with just under 90 seconds remaining on the game clock in the second overtime period.
 
With the win, Alverno improves to 1-0 for the first time since the 2018 season. The overtime win for the Inferno was the first time the Inferno had needed extra time since the 2017 opener, when Alverno knocked off the Crown Storm by the score of 2-1. With the win, Alverno's all-time overtime record improves to 4-1-4 in contests needing to go beyond 90 minutes.
 
Senior Shaye Wolfe got back to her scoring ways as she scored in the 11th minute of action, to give her 26 career goals as she moves into a tie for sixth place on the all-time goals scored list at Alverno with Jackie Vanderkolk, who scored 26 goals in her two season with the Inferno.
 
It was freshman Muriah Alejandrino to net the game-winner in overtime, as the newcomer to the roster scored her first collegiate goal in the 109th minute of play on a break down the left wing after slipping past the Red Devil defense.
 
In addition to Wolfe and Alejandrino, six others took shots in the director of the Eureka goal, including a pair by sophomore Margarita Navarro, while senior Angela Chobanian, juniors Alo Cervantes and Katie Shipley, and sophomore Crystal Reyes all tallied one shot apiece.
 
In goal, junior Kenzie Bermudez yielded one goal, but made 11 saves as she moved into fourth on the all-time saves list at Alverno. With the win, Bermudez also moves into a tie for fourth on the all-time goalkeeper wins list, and also moved into third on the all-time goalie minutes played list.
 
Reyes took Alverno's first shot of the season in the fourth minute to get the offensive attack started for the red and white, before Wolfe took Alverno's next shot at the 10:21 mark when she sprinted down the left wing past a defender before juking out the Eureka goalkeeper near post to put the Inferno ahead 1-0.
 
The Red Devils were awards a penalty kick in the 40th minute that was stopped by Bermudez to keep Alverno ahead, but just over a minute later Eureka broke through to even the score at one just minutes before the halftime break.
 
After a scoreless 55 minutes between the second half and first overtime period, the game progressed to a second extra session. Wolfe and Navarro each took a shot, to open the final period before a pair of shots by Eureka.
 
At the 108:37 mark, Alejandrino netted her first goal to give the Inferno the walk-off victory.
 
Alverno (1-0-0, 0-0-0 NACC) will be back in action at home, when the team hosts the Mount Mary Blue Angels for a 4:30 p.m. start on the Alverno Soccer Field on Wednesday afternoon. Please refer to the Fall Season Spectator Policy for more information regarding Wednesday's home contest.