Belles Silence Bobcats for Tournament Title

Box Score

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Saint Mary's soccer team claimed their first tournament title since 2008 with a commanding 4-0 victory over Thiel (Pa.). The Belles left the Defiance Classic with a 2-0 victory and the championship on Saturday afternoon.

Taylor Paton had a big game offensively for the Belles. The senior put Saint Mary's on the board in the 14th minute by converting a corner kick for the first goal of the game. After the halftime break, Paton picked up her second goal of the day for her first multi-goal performance on another corner kick. Moreover, the two goals mark the first time the senior midfielder has notched multiple goals in the same season.

Just three minutes after Paton's second strike, freshman Erin Mishu tallied her first collegiate career goal by converting her shot from the middle of the box to put Saint Mary's up 3-0. Jordan Diffenderfer added the final goal in the closing seconds of the game to lift the Belles to the 4-0 decision.

The Belles' defense wrapped up a stellar weekend with their second consecutive shut out. It is the first time since the 2007 season that Saint Mary's has picked up back-to-back shut out wins. Against the Bobcats, the Belles' solid defensive line only allowed a single shot on the day while the offense provided 44 shots of their own.

Chanler Rosenbaum and Natalie Warner combined for the shut out in goal for the second straight day.

The Belles (2-0) will return home to host the Spartans of Manchester College on Tuesday, September 6. The game is set to kick off beginning at 5:00 p.m.