Belles Shut Out Comets, 3-0

Box Score

OLIVET, Mich. - The Saint Mary's soccer team had a stronghold on possession of the ball as well as the score in a 3-0 win over Olivet on Saturday.

Coming out of the starting whistle, the Belles set the tone with their possession and pressure. Saint Mary's put four shots on goal before the Comets were able to earn their lone corner kick of the first half.

Saint Mary's was able to break through with their first goal of the game in the 21st minute. Jordan Diffenderfer notched her fourth goal of the season with a shot just inside the near post off a ball bouncing around the box.

The Belles' defense continued to be a force to be reckoned with as the Olivet offense did not tally their first shot until the 33rd minute.

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Belles until midway through the second half. Kelly Wilson played the ball into the box, drawing the Olivet goalkeeper off her line and away from goal. Keely Noonan was able to beat the Olivet keeper to the ball and play it over her head and into the back of the net for her first goal of the 2011 season with just under 20 minutes left in regulation.

Almost ten minutes later to the second, the Belles struck for their third goal of the contest. Hillary Burton connected with Jordan Diffenderfer with just 9:26 remaining in the game. Diffenderfer then delivered a far-post shot into the goal from inside the six-yard box for her first multi-goal effort of her collegiate career.

Saint Mary's out-shot Olivet 20-4 in the win while the defense gave up just one shot on-goal to the Comet offense.

Natalie Warner and Nicole Papiernik combined for the clean-sheet effort. Warner picked up the lone save as the duo helped the Belles to their third combined shutout and the team's fifth total shutout of 2011.

The Belles (8-5, 4-5 MIAA) will have a week off before their fourth-straight away game when they travel to Alma on Saturday, October 15, for a noon tilt against the Scots.