Belles Blanked by Brits

Box Score

• Brianna Smith, McKenna O'Shea, Megan Saunders, and Emily Lambert each tallied a shot.
• Thallia Robles made 18 saves in goal.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team lost a 6-0 final against Albion on a muggy Tuesday evening.

The visiting Brits set the tone early with four goals in the first 18 minutes of play. Ashley Hernandez and Molly Murphy nearly connected on a combination for a breakaway chance in the 16th minute of action, but Murphy's touch was too wide, allowing a defender to come in and break up the play. Another Albion goal in the 24th minute made it 4-0, but the Belles continued to battle during the first half of action.

The Belles controlled big stretches of possession over the final 14 minutes of the first half. During one such stretch, both Emily Lambert and Brianna Smith had efforts on goal for Saint Mary's. Cedella Breitenstein pushed a pass from the right flank through the middle to Molly Murphy. Murphy then turned, carried the ball a couple of touches, and threaded a pass through two defenders on the left side of the field for Lambert to run on to inside the box. Lambert gained possession and fell on a turning shot which went directly to the Albion goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Megan Saunders fired a shot from the middle of the Belles' offensive end only to see the strike go wide left. Not even a minute after that shot, Saunders was on the sending end of a pass to the left side of the field for Brianna Smith, who had her shot stopped inside the left post.

The Belles nearly had a breakaway chance on a transition from defense to offense. Thallia Robles sent a punt to Molly Murphy in the middle of the center circle. Murphy held possession, turned, and sent a pass ahead for McKenna O'Shea. O'Shea held off a defender and carried the ball in across the top of the box. Her shot in the box was met immediately by a defender as the Belles continued to fight late in the half. With under three minutes remaining in the period, Murphy again was on the serving side of a pass into a lot of space as the sophomore played a ball over the top for Cedella Breitenstein. As Breitenstein raced to set up a sure goal, her final touch to go wide of the keeper was too heavy, and the Albion goalkeeper was able to scurry out and dive on the ball before damage could be inflicted.

Albion added two goals in the second half of play for the 6-0 final.

Brianna Smith, McKenna O'Shea, Megan Saunders, and Emily Lambert each tallied a shot for Saint Mary's. Thallia Robles made 18 saves in goal.

The Belles (1-8, 0-7 MIAA) travel to Adrian on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. contest against the Bulldogs.