Belles Topped by Pioneers in Season Opener
Saint Mary's Stories
- Clare Theisen, Molly Stout, Kendra Osinski, and Kate Kelly each had two goals for the Belles.
- Mary Singler (one goal) and Emilie Vanneste (one assist) tallied a point each.
- The Belles had a 19-10 edge in draw controls in the game.
ENGLEWOOD, Fla. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team fell by a 19-9 final score against Smith in the Belles' season opener on Tuesday afternoon.
The Pioneers gained an early 1-0 lead three minutes into the contest and doubled their advantage at nearly the five-minute mark of play. After Smith made it 3-0 at the 23:45 mark, Cara Givens made a save to help start a clear by the Belles. Mary Singler drew a free position opportunity, and the freshman connected on her first attempt to make it 3-1 with 18:45 remaining in the opening half.
Smith responded with back-to-back goals to extend the lead to 5-1, but the Belles continued to put on the pressure. Kate Kelly fired a shot on goal only to have it stopped, but Singler forced a turnover on the ensuring clear attempt. That caused turnover directly led to Clare Theisen threading a pass to Molly Stout, and Stout sent home her first shot of the season for a goal to make it 5-2.
The Pioneers came back with a goal only to see the Belles work toward gaining some momentum while chipping away at the deficit. Givens picked up a save on a free position shot, and Kendra Osinski found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal to make it 6-3 with 10:33 left in the first half. Kate Kelly then won the next draw control, and Molly Stout added her second goal in as many shots to edge Saint Mary's within 6-4 with 9:26 on the clock. Smith regained a three-goal lead a minute later, but the Belles kept within striking distance as Kate Kelly got on the scoresheet with a free position goal with just under seven minutes left on the clock. The Pioneers, however, responded with four goals over the final five minutes of play to take an 11-5 lead into the halftime break.
The Belles were unable to get within fewer than six goals of Smith during the second half of play despite out-shooting the Pioneers by a 12-8 margin over the final 30 minutes of action. Clare Theisen had a pair of goals in the second half while Kate Kelly and Kendra Osinski each added their second goal of the contest in the period.
The shots were 27-24 in favor of Smith for the game while Saint Mary's had a 19-10 advantage in draw controls won.
The Belles were led by a three-point effort by Clare Theisen (two goals, one assist). Molly Stout, Kate Kelly, and Kendra Osinski each registered two goals, and Mary Singler tallied one goal. Emilie Vanneste had an assist and led the team with three ground balls. Kelly collected a career-best nine draw controls, and Singler notched six draw controls in the contest. Cara Givens made seven saves in goal for Saint Mary's.
The Belles (0-1) are back in action tomorrow in Florida when they take on Wooster at 11:30 a.m.