Belles Bitten by Bulldogs for First Loss

Box Score

ADRIAN, Mich. - The Saint Mary's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision at Adrian on Saturday for their first loss of the 2011 campaign.

Entering the day, the Belles were one of fewer than 30 Division III women's soccer programs without a loss on the season. Despite the loss, the Saint Mary's soccer team is still off to their best start since 1992 when the team jumped out to a 7-0 start.

The Bulldogs took little time to get on the scoreboard. In the fourth minute of the game, Adrian got a bounce to go their way and slid a shot into the lower left corner of the goal for the first score of the game. The Bulldogs nearly got a second goal just a few minutes later, but senior defender Keely Noonan was able to clear the ball off the goal line. Ten minutes after their first goal, however, the Bulldogs sent a long pass over the defense and capitalized for their second goal of the first 14 minutes of the game.

Late in the first half, Adrian pushed the ball up the field quickly in transition and slipped the ball just inside the right post.

The Belles go on the scoreboard in the 64th minute of play. Maddie Meckes took a free kick and connected with Mollie Valencia, who headed the ball into the right corner of the goal.

Adrian, however, added another goal in the 72nd minute for the 4-1 decision.

The Bulldogs out-shot Saint Mary's 13-6 on the day while the Belles held a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Chanler Rosenbaum suffered the loss in goal after playing more than 63 minutes on the day before Natalie Warner came in for the final 26-plus minutes of play.

The Belles (5-1, 1-1 MIAA) will look to bounce back when they return home to host defending MIAA champion Alma on Thursday, September 22 beginning at 5:00 p.m.