WAUKESHA, Wis. - In a tightly-contested match up, the Saint Mary's lacrosse team came up just short in an 8-7 final at Carroll University on Saturday evening.

Saint Mary's got on the scoreboard first when Hanna Makowski sent home a free position shot 2:45 into play. Carroll responded with back-to-back goals over the next two and a half minutes of action, but the Belles kept the offensive pressure on with shots on goal by Molly Stout and Kate Kelly. Saint Mary's pulled even by capitalizing on a player-up opportunity as Raigan Althouse snuck a shot past the Pioneers' goalie on a free position shot with 20:32 still to play in the opening half.

Kendra Osinski made a save with more than 13 minutes on the clock, and Caleigh Gainey collected the ground ball to start the clear out of the defensive end. Clare Theisen had a shot on goal stopped less than a minute later as the game moved ahead. The Pioneers regained the lead with 10:24 remaining in the period, but Theisen knotted the score at 3-3 barely a minute later with a free position goal with nine minutes on the clock. The Belles nearly went ahead on a shot by Kate Kelly, but the junior's attempt ricocheted off the post.

The Pioneers gained some momentum by putting a pair of goals on the scoreboard over the final 2:30 of the first half to take a 5-3 lead into the break. Carroll then opened the second half with a goal in the opening minute, but the Belles were far from conceding defeat on the road. Clare Theisen forced a turnover and turned defense into offense with a goal with 27:48 on the clock to make it a 6-4 game. Kendra Osinski then made five consecutive saves over the next 19 minutes of play to keep Carroll off the scoreboard, and the defense successfully fended off a player-down situation to stay within striking distance.

With under nine minutes remaining, the Belles cut the deficit to one goal after Molly Stout connected with Erin Doyle for a goal with 8:39 on the clock. The Pioneers quickly countered with a goal of their own, but the Belles continued to stay steady. Osinski made yet another save, and Molly Stout sent home a goal at the other end to again make it a one-goal differential. Erin Doyle's look at tying the game with 4:33 to play was saved, and Carroll used their next possession to the fullest to score a goal with 3:29 remaining for an 8-6 advantage.

The Belles capitalized on a turnover by the Pioneers with under two minutes remaining as Kate Kelly found the back of the cage with an unassisted goal with 1:33 on the clock. The Belles won the ensuing draw control, but a turnover with a minute gave the ball back to Carroll. Saint Mary's battled to try to get the ball back, but the Belles were unable to get the necessary scoring chance late as time ran out in the one-goal game.

Clare Theisen tallied two goals. Molly Stout added a goal and an assist. Raigan Althouse, Hanna Makowski, Kate Kelly, and Erin Doyle each chipped in a goal. Kelly led the way with nine ground balls and five draw controls while causing four turnovers. Kendra Osinski made eight saves in goal for the Belles.

The Belles (4-2) are back in action on Sunday when they take on Carthage in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at 1:00 p.m. CDT.