Comeback Falls Short for Belles Against Comets
Saint Mary's Stories
- Maggie McLaughlin scored the Belles' first goal of the year on a penalty kick
- Rachel McCarthy made nine saves in her first game in goal
- Emily Rompola and Liza Felix each added two shots
OLIVET, Mich. - The Saint Mary's soccer team pulled within a goal with under ten minutes remaining but fell short in a 3-1 final at Olivet on Saturday.
The host Comets got out to an early lead with a goal in the fourth minute of play. Rachel McCarthy came up with a pair of saves to keep the Belles in the game as the Comets continued to keep the pressure high on Saint Mary's.
As the half went on, the Belles were able to turn some of the pressure back onto Olivet. Maggie McLaughlin and Lindsay Rzepecki put back to back shots on goal for the Belles in the 33rd minute of play only to have their efforts pushed aside. In the final five minutes, Saint Mary's had one of their best scoring chances of the half when Jenn Jarmy put a shot on goal, but the junior's strike was also saved before any damage could be done as the game went to halftime 1-0 in favor of the Comets.
Olivet took little time in the second half to expand their lead to 2-0. McCarthy came up with a save, but the second-chance opportunity off the save was punched into the back of the net by the Comets as the clock moved to the 55th minute of play.
The score remained unchanged until the final ten minutes of play. Maggie McLaughlin converted a penalty kick in the 84th minute after the Comets were whistled for a handball inside the box.
The comeback hopes were quickly dashed for the Belles as Olivet added a late insurance goal in the 88th minute to ensure the 3-1 win.
Rachel McCarthy made nine saves in her first appearance in goal for the Belles. McLaughlin had a team-high three shots while Emily Rompola and Liza Felix each added two shots.
The Belles (0-4, 0-2 MIAA) return to South Bend to host Kalamazoo on Monday, September 14 starting at 4:00 p.m.