Posted: Apr 23, 2022
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back in a 22-8 conference win over Adrian as the team held their annual Lax for Liberty Game to benefit the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran's Center.
Erin Dotson put the Belles on the scoreboard with a goal 1:14 into action, and Shannon McCloskey and Bridget Kane quickly made it 3-0 less than four minutes into the game. McCloskey added another goal, and Sarah Frick put away back-to-back goals to push the Saint Mary's lead to 6-0. The teams traded goals over the next three minutes of play with Valentina Rubio and Bridget Kane teaming up twice for a goal and an assist each. Gabby Belsito gave the home side a 9-2 lead with over two minutes to play in the first quarter, and Kane extended the lead to 10-2 late in the period.
Two Gabby Belsito goals to open the second quarter extended the lead to 12-2, but Adrian put a stop to the running clock three minutes later with a goal. Erin Dotson gave the Belles their second ten-goal advantage of the game with a free position goal, but the Bulldogs battled back to put a stop to the running clock again at 13-4 with under five minutes to go in the first half. Shannon McCloskey put away her third goal of the game, and Erin Dotson ensured the Belles kept the clock going with a goal in the final minute of the quarter for a 15-4 halftime lead.
The Belles outscored the Bulldogs 6-0 in the third quarter. Erin Dotson tallied two of the goals in the period. Kathleen Soller put away the first goal of her collegiate career, and McCloskey, Julia Gorski, and Kane each added a goal. Adrian continued to put the pressure on the Belles late, and the Bulldogs outscored Saint Mary's by a 4-1 margin in the fourth period. Dotson tallied the Belles' goal as the large lead built over the first three quarters was insurmountable in the 22-8 final.
The re-defend for Saint Mary's helped set the tone early as the Belles limited the Bulldogs to just 3-of-10 on clear attempts in the game.
Erin Dotson matched her career-high with six goals while registering an assist, three draw controls, and two ground balls. Shannon McCloskey posted four goals on four shots with three ground balls and a new career-high three caused turnovers. Bridget Kane tallied four goals, three assists, four draw controls, three ground balls, and a caused turnover. Gabby Belsito had three goals, an assist, four ground balls, and two draw controls on the day.
Sarah Frick scored a pair of goals with two ground balls and came away with a career-high eight draw controls.Julia Gorski added a goal and an assist while Kathleen Soller scored her first career goal for the Belles. Kaitlyn King notched two assists in the win. Valentina Rubio had a goal, an assist, two draw controls, and two ground balls while playing at both ends of the field. Alexis Fady opened the game in goal for the first quarter of play before Emma Zmudzinski made a save over the final 45 minutes for the Belles for her second win of the season.
The Belles (8-5, 4-1 MIAA) travel to Trine for a conference game on Wednesday, April 27 starting at 7:00 p.m.