MAYWOOD – Eighteen hours after recording a thrilling 1-0 victory via an 81st-minute overtime golden goal at Willowbrook, Morton returned to the pitch for another West Suburban Conference Gold Division road game.

Due to the potential of stormy weather, the conference game was moved up two hours to 4:30 p.m.

The Mustangs were still riding high following Carisma Rosales free kick into the upper left corner that ended a four-game losing streak Monday.

Playing against Proviso East (0-11-1, 0-2-0) Tuesday afternoon, the Mustangs found their scoring stride to notch a 7-0 victory.

The Mustangs (6-6-0, 2-0-0) reached the .500 mark and improved their perfect conference mark. Rosales, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match, led the attack with two goals but narrowly missed on five shots that could easily have raised her total.

The Marquette recruit, who scored her first goal of the season in Monday’s win, let down her intense demeanor to smile and joke with her teammates during several moments in the match. The game was played under a unique weather pattern from: dark and cloudy; to raining; to rainless; to rain again; to playing the final 10-plus minutes in the sun.

“After coming off Monday’s win late, we needed a game like this to get everyone on track,” Morton coach Jim Bageanis said. “We were able to connect some passes a little more, get everyone some minutes and get some other people in the box score. We’re trying to get them to play little bit each game. I’m happy to win our first two games in conference.”

The Mustangs continue their busy week by hosting Eisenhower on Thursday at 5 p.m. before playing at Riverside-Brookfield on April 22. They get back into the conference whey Addison Trail comes for a visit at 7 p.m. April 23.

“We have a big one next Tuesday against Addison,” Bageanis said. “That’s a game we have to come ready to go. It’s going to be a better game than Willowbrook. We’re going to have to step up our game even more. They have a couple of club players that are playing for them this year. That will be a good test going into Iowa (Tournament of Champions).”

The Mustangs didn’t wait until the 81st minute like in Monday’s win to get their first goal. This time the visitors jumped ahead early when Rosales netted a shot after a pass from Stephanie Salmeron in the third minute. The scoring star went on to finish with a hat-trick. Karina Estrada delivered a goal and assist. Adamary Huitron, Jenny DeLoSantos and Melanie Garcia concluded the scoring. Solano and Jaqueline recorded helpers.

Morton senior midfielder Solano dropped a shot into the back of the net as the final buzzer sounded, but her goal was waved off to her frustration.

“Yeah, I wanted to score all game,” Solano said. “I felt like I was messing up all game and missing my shots. It felt good on that last one because my dad was watching me, but it didn’t count. We’re playing well. We definitely needed this win. We did a good job communicating as a team.”

Huitron said she was happy to be her name in the scoring column, drilling in a penalty kick attempt for a 4-0 lead in the 50th minute.

“I think we could’ve scored more, but we came back strong from Monday’s game,” Huitron said. “It feels good to score goals, because our shooting hasn’t been the best so far. It feels great. It felt good to score. It was on a penalty kick. I was nervous, but it was exciting at the end.”

Estrada, a first-year varsity player, said it was an odd game in general.

“I think it was a necessary win for us. It lifts us up and encourages us to play harder for our next game, because we just came off two wins,” Estrada said. “I have played a lot of games, so I’ve definitely seen a lot worse weather, but it was hard to see at times on the field. We played strong and didn’t step down and give them an opportunity to come back.”

Morton junior defender Crystal Ozuna said the team banded together to earn the shutout.

“It was fun, and we just had to communicate and try our hardest to win this game,” Ozuna said. “We feel good winning two in a row, and it shows our effort.”

Proviso East coach Joseph Radecki said his players didn’t back down despite a difficult challenge. He said his team was hurt by the absence of starting center defensive midfielder, Ailin Rosales, and gave his keeper Haley Arechiga a shout-out for her play. She had six saves in the defeat. 

“We were down two starters, but the girls kept battling,” Radecki said. “The girls kept trying and battling. 

“My goaltender, Haley Arechiga, had her team name her player of the game, because she made a lot of good saves. Morton is always good and always gives us a battle. They move the ball well and know how to communicate.

“I’m looking forward to our game against our rival school, Proviso West. We have to put the ball in the net and play good defense.”
 

Starting lineups
 
Morton
GK: Melaney Zuniga
D: Isabel Sanchez
D: Katherine Garcia
D: Crystal Ozuna
D: Emily Orduna
MF: Brigitte Solano
MF: Karina Estrada
MF: Stephanie Salmeron
MF: Michelle Chavez
F: Adamary Huitron
F: Carisma Rosales
 
Proviso East
GK: Haley Arechiga
D: Alondra Casarez
D: Daniella Ayala
D: Xiomara Salas
D: Vannessa Hernandez
MF: Rosalyn Hogan
MF: Roselyn Gutierrez
MF: Jasmine Mireles
MF: Maria Monteon
F: Ashley Avila
F: Ariana Zagal-Romero
 
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Carisma Rosales, sr., F, Morton
 
Scoring summary
First half
Morton: Rosales (Salmeron) 3’
Morton: Estrada (unassisted), 17’
 
Second half
Morton: Rosales (Estrada), 43’
Morton: Huitron (penalty kick), 50’
Morton: Rosales (Solano), 56’
Morton: DeLoSantos (Ortega), 61’
Morton: Garcia (penalty kick), 78’