Belles Topped by Brits

Box Score

• Hanna Makowski scored a goal and added an assist while also causing a turnover for the Belles.
• Clare Theisen, Emilie Vanneste, and Mary Grace Heller each added a goal.
• Kate Kelly led the team with eight ground balls and four caused turnovers.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - In a match up of unbeaten conference opponents, the Saint Mary's lacrosse team suffered their first blemish in league play after falling 14-4 against Albion on Saturday afternoon.

The Brits took an early lead with a goal 1:25 into the game before adding a pair of goals within the next three minutes to go up 3-0. Saint Mary's was able to break through with a goal six minutes later. Hanna Makowski threaded a pass in to Emilie Vanneste, and the junior sent home her 21st goal of the season to make it a 3-1 game with 19:17 to go in the first half.

Albion responded with a goal shortly after the next draw control, but the Belles countered with another goal to keep close. The Brits were whistled for a goal circle violation on what would have been the fifth goal of the game for the guests. Instead, Shannon Weyer made a solid save a few moments later. That save led to a good clear by the Belles, and Teresa Guerrero kept the ball in the Belles' possession with a ground ball before Hanna Makowski tallied her 10th goal of the year.

The Brits, however, registered the next three goals of the game to take a 7-2 lead with 10:31 remaining in the first half. Saint Mary's held off a player-down situation with 5:39 on the clock and nearly had a goal at the other end, but Kate Kelly's shot went wide of the net with 4:16 to go. Shortly after getting back to full numbers on the field with the expiration of a yellow card, Kelly hit Clare Theisen with a pass to lead to Theisen's 34th goal of the season with 3:14 to go.

A late turnover in the defensive end by Saint Mary's resulted in a quick strike for the Brits as Albion scored a goal with nine seconds left in the half to take an 8-2 lead into the break.

Albion continued to find a way to get their shots to count while the Belles had trouble sneaking shots in during the second period of play. The Brits tallied three goals to open the second half for an 11-3 lead with 19:32 still left on the clock. Saint Mary's did not give up as the Belles were able to break up the scoring spurt by Albion. Mary Grace Heller worked past her defender with a spin move and a cut before sending home her sixth goal of the year to cut the deficit to 11-4 with plenty of time remaining.

Down the stretch, however, the Brits were able to add three more goals while to claim the 14-4 win.

The final score was not indicative of how close the game truly was on both ends of the field. The Brits held a narrow 37-35 edge in ground balls. The Belles, meanwhile, took 11 draw controls to Albion's nine and committed three fewer turnovers than the Brits over the 60 minutes of play.

Hanna Makowski scored a goal and added an assist while also causing a turnover for the Belles. Clare Theisen had four draw controls, four ground balls, and scored a goal. Emilie Vanneste scored a goal, and Mary Grace Heller added a goal. Kate Kelly led the team with eight ground balls and four caused turnovers. Shannon Weyer made four saves during the first half of play, and Cara Givens made nine stops over the final 30 minutes of action.

The Belles (6-6, 3-1 MIAA) travel to Calvin on Tuesday, April 19 for a 5:00 p.m. contest against the Knights.