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Laura Perez recorded 5 goals and Mother McAuley used a 6-0 run in the second half to pull away from Evanston in a 10-2 win at the state tournament on Friday night at Stevenson High School. Emily Ryan added 2 scores in the win for the Mighty Macs, while Yuri Chavez, Maggie McShane, and Meghan Nolan each scored one goal in the victory.

McKenna Kulman and Lily Nassiri both recorded goals in the loss for Evanston, while Wildkits' goalie Anne Frigo made 12 saves in the losing effort.

The game was closely contested in the early going, as McAuley led just 2-1 at the end of the first period. McAuley forced four early turnovers in the first three minutes, culminating in Chavez' steal and assist on a goal by Perez from the left post just outside of two meters. Late in the period, Nolan drove to the right post and then dished to Perez, who scored after driving down the middle to the two meter mark. Evanston cut the lead in half when Nassiri connected on an outside shot in the closing seconds of the first quarter.

Both defenses remained effective in the second quarter, but McAuley's McShane recovered a loose ball and scored as Frigo came out of the goal to defend a challenge by the Macs. Chavez added a penalty shot goal later in the half as McAuley led 4-1 at halftime.

Evanston made things interesting in the third quarter, as Kulman scored from just inside five meters to make the score 4-2. McAuley, however, scored three straight goals to close out the quarter and held the Wildkits scoreless the rest of the way. Chavez drew an ejection and Nolan scored from five meters, Ryan scored from the left post midway through the period, and Ryan again scored before the end of the quarter to put the Macs on top 7-2.

McAuley would score three straight goals early in the final period to close the game out. Perez scored from two meters on two straight possessions, then made a steal and scored from two meters to give McAuley a 10-2 win.