ALBION, Mich. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team battled their way back from an 8-3 deficit in the third quarter to tie the game 10-10, but host Albion used a late goal and all but ran out the clock in an 11-10 final in a matchup of previously unbeaten conference squads on Thursday evening. 

 

Both sides opened the game with strong efforts to defend their critical scoring areas. Saint Mary's pressured Albion into some difficult shots, which Alexis Fady saved over the opening minute of play. Likewise, the Brits' defense was successful in slowing down the Belles early on as Albion's netminder used a save to keep the game scoreless through 3:41 of play. The two sides continued their back-and-forth stoppages until Albion used a three-goal spurt midway through the quarter to gain a 3-0 lead with under seven minutes remaining on the clock. Fady used some pressure against the Brits outside of the goal circle to disrupt a scoring opportunity with four minutes remaining in the period, and the Belles capitalized with their first goal after Shannon McCloskey connected with Katie Haas as Haas lit up the scoreboard with 3:27 on the clock. Both teams continued to ride strong defense as the game moved to the second quarter with Albion ahead 3-1.

 

The Brits put two goals on the scoreboard in the opening three minutes of the second stanza for a 5-1 lead, but Lindsey Herdsman and Valentina Rubio each caused a turnover to keep Albion from extending the lead. Shannon McCloskey drew a free position attempt with under ten minutes left on the clock, and the senior delivered a goal to cut the deficit to three. Albion countered with a goal a minute and 23 seconds later. Erin Dotson, Bridget Kane, and Katie Haas each had a shot saved, and a late goal by the Brits made it a 7-2 game at halftime.

 

Saint Mary's stayed steady, however, as Bridget Kane put away a free position goal early in the third quarter to reach 100 career goals and make it 7-3. The Brits won the next draw control and scored quickly, but the Belles stayed locked in defensively with Kaitlyn King coming away with a caused turnover and Alexis Fady adding a save to her total. The Belles capitalized on that save with Lindsey Herdsman pushing the defense to offense and connecting with Christiana Singler in transition as Singler put away her first goal of the game. Erin Dotson earned the next draw control, and Kane found the back of the net after a solid set offensive possession to make it 8-5 with 7:18 on the clock. Both teams dug in defensively over the final seven minutes of the period as the game moved to the fourth quarter.

 

The Belles used a strong re-defend early in the fourth with Erin Dotson causing a turnover and Bridget Kane collecting the ground ball. Another re-defend after a saved free position shot saw Sarah Frick and Gabby Belsito force the Albion goalie into turning the ball over at the edge of the critical scoring area, and Christiana Singler put away the goal on an open net to make it an 8-6 game. Albion responded with a quick goal, but Saint Mary's had an answer of their own with a goal by Shannon McCloskey after Bridget Kane won the draw control. Albion countered with another goal with 8:15 to play to gain a 10-7 advantage, but the Belles fought just as they had all game to work their way back into contention. Kane caused a turnover, got the ground ball, and registered an assist on Erin Dotson's goal to make it 10-8. Dotson came away with the next draw control, and Kane connected with Gabby Belsito as Belsito made it a one-goal game at 10-9 just 32 seconds later. The Belles then capitalized on an Albion player crossing the restraining line too early on the next draw control as Dotson tallied an assist on Belsito's second goal in as many shots as Saint Mary's knotted the game at 10-10 with 6:42 remaining. Both teams forced the other into turning the ball over, and both teams' goalies had a big save each as tension built in the waning minutes of the fourth period. Albion, however, took advantage of a free position opportunity with just under two minutes to play to gain the lead and a big boost of momentum. A yellow card gave Albion the ball after the goal, and the Brits were able to nearly run out the clock for the 11-10 final.

 

Bridget Kane became the sixth player in Belles lacrosse history to amass 100 career goals as the senior had two goals and three assists to help pace the offensive efforts. Kane added four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Gabby Belsito tallied two goals, an assist, and tied her career-high mark with three caused turnovers. Shannon McCloskey posted two goals and an assist, and Christiana Singler buried two goals on two shots. Erin Dotson had a goal, an assist, a career-high three caused turnovers, and a team-best four draw controls. Katie Haas notched a goal for the Belles. 

 

Lindsey Herdsman was strong on both ends of the field as the senior picked up an assist while causing two turnovers and picking up three ground balls. Valentina Rubio added an impactful effort on the defensive end and on transition with a team-high and game-high four caused turnovers. Rubio also collected three ground balls. Elizabeth Bourassa rounded out strong performances by the three mainstays in the defender position for Saint Mary's with two caused turnovers. Alexis Fady made six saves in goal as the Belles held the Britons to their lowest scoring output since March 9.

 

The Belles (7-5, 3-1 MIAA) continue a busy week of competition on Saturday when they host Adrian at 1:00 p.m. for the team's annual Lax for Liberty game, which raises awareness and supplies for the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center in South Bend.