Belles Succumb to Colonials

Box Score

• Mary Singler and Kate Kelly each had three goals and an assist to lead Saint Mary's.
• Clare Theisen, Emilie Vanneste, and Kendra Osinski each registered a goal.
• Cara Givens made six saves for the Belles.

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team came up short in a 19-9 contest against Western Connecticut State to conclude their spring break trip to Florida on Thursday.

The Colonials spotted a 3-0 lead through the first ten minutes of action, but the Belles responded with four of the next six goals to make it a 5-4 game midway through the period. Clare Theisen put Saint Mary's on the scoreboard with a free position shot to make it 3-1. A short while later, Kate Kelly, Mary Singler, and Kendra Osinski put together the Belles' biggest scoring run of the game with three goals in less than a minute of game time to pull Saint Mary's within a goal of Western Connecticut at 5-4 with more than 15 minutes remaining in the period.

Western Connecticut responded with a big run to build an insurmountable lead. The Colonials scored goals on their next two possessions to start a 5-0 scoring spurt while pushing their advantage to 10-4 with just over six minutes remaining before halftime. Kate Kelly got the Belles back on the scoreboard with a free position goal less than a minute later, and Emilie Vanneste capitalized on a prolonged possession a minute and a half later with an unassisted goal of her own to make it a 10-6 game with less than four minutes left on the clock.

The Belles nearly made an greater dent in the deficit, but Singler had a shot go wide while Vanneste had a free position shot saved. A minute later, Cara Givens made a save on a free position opportunity. The Colonials kept that possession alive and scored with 1:19 to go in the first half for an 11-6 lead. Western Connecticut added another goal just before the break to hold a 12-6 halftime lead.

The Colonials added to their lead with a pair of goals to open the second half. Kendra Osinski won the next draw, and Singler earned an assist on Kate Kelly's third goal of the game to make it 14-7 with plenty of time remaining. Western Connecticut, however, shut the door on any thoughts of a comeback my netting the next three goals while taking up eight minutes of game time to build a 17-7 advantage. The Belles continued to battle, and Mary Singler scored on the next two shots she attempted to make it a 17-9 game with seven minutes left in the half. The Belles were unable to cut into the deficit any further, and the Colonials added two goals in the final six minutes to take the 19-9 decision.

Western Connecticut had a slim 29-27 advantage in total shots in the game. The Colonials converted five of their 10 free position shots in the contest while the Belles were 3-of-13 in the same category during the game.

Mary Singler and Kate Kelly each had three goals and an assist to lead Saint Mary's. Kelly added four ground balls and five draw controls. Clare Theisen, Emilie Vanneste, and Kendra Osinski each registered a goal. Cara Givens made six saves for the Belles.

Saint Mary's (0-3) is back in action on Tuesday, March 21 when they travel to Illinois Tech for a 6:00 p.m. CDT contest against the Scarlet Hawks.