O'Shea Sets Program Record as Belles Defeat Spartans
Saint Mary's Stories
- McKenna O'Shea became the first Belle to score four goals in a game.
- Kellen Hinchey, Kelsey Matyi, and Ashley Hernandez each registered an assist.
- Thallia Robles made five saves in the Belles' 4-1 victory.
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - McKenna O'Shea scored four goals - a first for the Saint Mary's soccer program - as the Belles defeated Manchester by a 4-1 score on Sunday afternoon.
The host Spartans broke through early with first with a goal in the 11th minute of action. As the game progressed, however, the momentum continued to shift more and more in favor of the Belles. McKenna O'Shea capitalized on a pass from Kellen Hinchey in the 30th minute to tie the game at 1-1. Four-and-a-half minutes later, O'Shea struck again with an unassisted effort to give Saint Mary's a 2-1 edge in the 34th minute. Thallia Robles came up with a save late in the half as the Belles held the 2-1 lead at the halftime break.
The freshman took little time in the second period to net the program's first hat trick since 2003. Kelsey Matyi played a pass to O'Shea, and the forward powered a shot past the keeper to make it a 3-1 lead in the 49th minute. Robles notched back-to-back saves in the 75th and 77th minutes to keep the Spartans from regaining any momentum. As the game moved to the final ten minutes of play, the Belles capitalized on another scoring combination. Ashley Hernandez sent a cross into dangerous territory, and O'Shea tapped home her program-record fourth goal of the game in the 85th minute. Manchester had a late corner kick and two shots on goal in the final minute of play, but Robles came up with the saves to preserve the 4-1 victory.
Manchester held a 24-13 lead in shots while both teams registered six shots on goal.
McKenna O'Shea scored four goals on nine shots with six of those efforts going on goal. Kellen Hinchey, Kelsey Matyi, and Ashley Hernandez each tallied an assist. Thallia Robles picked up the win in goal while collecting five saves.
The Belles (1-1) open up MIAA play on Wednesday night when they host Olivet at 7:00 p.m.