NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team out-scored visiting Alma 9-1 in the final quarter to take a 21-10 win on Senior Day.

 

Gabby Belsito set the tone for the Belles as the senior scored less than three minutes into the contest. Shannon McClsokey scored off a pass from Bridget Kane less than a minute later. Belsito and McCloskey scored back-to-back goals within a span of 22 seconds a short while later to build a 4-0 lead through seven minutes of action. The Scots got on the scoreboard, but Belsito had the answer by winning the draw control and scoring just 12 seconds later for a 5-1 lead as the senior capped off the early hat trick. Alma responded with a quick goal of their own to make it a three-goal differential. The Belles used a caused turnover by Sarah Frick on a back check and a ground ball pick up by Erin Dotson to turn defense to offense as Bridget Kane scored in transition for a 6-2 lead.

 

Alma edged within three goals at 6-3 and 7-4 in the second quarter. Bridget Kane added her second goal of the contest in response to the Scots' first goal, and a late free position goal by Julia Gorski put the Belles up 8-4. Alexis Fady made three saves over the final three minutes of the quarter, and Saint Mary's took the four-goal lead into the halftime break.

 

Saint Mary's came out halftime with a lot of energy, which quickly translated itself into a goal by Erin Dotson and a goal by Katie Haas as Bridget Kane collected two more assists. The Scots tried to build some momentum of their own with back-to-back goals in the middle of the quarter. Christiana Singler fed a pass into the critical scoring area to Belsito, and the senior put away a goal. Erin Doston registered another goal for a 12-6 lead. Alma, however, struck with under three minutes to play in the period and added two late goals to make it a 12-9 game going into the fourth quarter.

 

Yet again, Gabby Belsito set the tone and helped the Belles take control of the game as the senior scored a pair of goals in the opening two minutes of the quarter for a 14-9 lead. Dotson added to her goal total on the day for a 15-9 advantage. The Scots used an extended possession to put away a goal to make it a 15-10 score with 10:52 on the clock. The Belles came out of a timeout and got a couple of quick goals by Dotson and Sarah Frick for a 17-10 lead. Dotson added two more goals, Belsito capped off a career goal-scoring day with a goal, and Katie Haas buried her second goal of the contest to lift Saint Mary's to the 21-10 win.

 

Gabby Belsito scored a career-high seven goals to lead all players in the contest. She also had five draw controls and a ground ball. Erin Dotson matched her career-high best with six goals and had five ground balls and three draw controls. Bridget Kane set a new career-high and matched the program record with six assists while adding five ground balls, a game-high eight draw controls, and a caused turnover. Shannon McCloskey notched two goals, two ground balls, and a caused turnover, and Katie Haas scored two goals of her own. Sarah Frick had a goal, an assist, three ground balls, and five draw controls. Julia Gorski tallied a goal, and Christiana Singler added an assist. 

 

On the defensive end, Valentina Rubio had a game-high three caused turnovers and came away with four ground balls. Elizabeth Bourassa tied her career-high mark with four ground balls. Lindsey Herdsman chipped in three ground balls and two turnovers. Alexis Fady made six saves over the first half of the game while picking up the win in goal. Emma Zmudzinski added three saves over the final 30 minutes of play.

 

The Belles (9-6, 5-2 MIAA) earned a spot in the MIAA Tournament, which begins on Wednesday May 4. Saint Mary's finished the season in a three-way tie for second place. More information on seeding for the tournament, game time, and tickets will be available after the official bracket announcement by the conference office.