NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team was edged out in the final quarter in a 13-12 final against Aurora on Saturday afternoon.

 

The visiting Spartans got on the scoreboard first with a goal 2:14 into the game and added a second goal three minutes later. Sarah Frick came away with the ensuing draw control, and a Bridget Kane pass led to a Katie Haas goal as the Belles lit up the scoring column with their first tally of the contest with 9:22 on the clock. Erin Dotson found the back of the net three minutes later, and a draw control win by Kane led to a quick goal  by Haas for a 3-2 Saint Mary's lead. A defensive stop by the Belles then led to a goal in transition by Kane for a 4-2 advantage. The Spartans responded with their own draw control-turned-goal combination to make it a 4-3 game as the Belles carried the one-goal lead into the second quarter.

 

Aurora knotted the game in the opening minute of the second period, but another defensive stop for Saint Mary's yielded a goal by Sarah Frick as the Belles regained the lead three minutes later. The two sides battled back-and-forth all across the field as the teams traded goals. Kane added to her scoring total, and Gabby Belsito buried a shot for a 7-6 lead for the home side with 6:34 on the clock. Alexis Fady came up with a save on a free position opportunity by the Spartans, and Kane added a player-up goal with three minutes to go before halftime to put Saint Mary's ahead 8-6. Aurora kept possession after another save by Fady, and the Spartans scored with under two minutes remaining in the period to make it an 8-7 game at the halftime break.

 

The visiting Spartans used an early goal again in the third to draw even at 8-8, but two more saves by Fady kept Aurora from gaining the lead. Bridget Kane then tallied her fourth goal of the contest for the 9-8 lead. Erin Dotson added a player-up goal on a free position shot in response to another Aurora goal to put the Belles ahead 10-9 with under six minutes to go in the period. Shannon McCloskey capitalized on a free position chance with a goal to make it an 11-9 score with 2:47 remaining in the third.  

 

Aurora continued the trend of early-quarter goals as the Spartans struck in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. After continued back-and-forth play and four saves by the Spartans' goalie, Aurora drew even at 11-11 with 6:37 on the clock. The Belles got a nearly immediate response with Bridget Kane's fifth goal of the game for a 12-11 lead just 30 seconds later. The Spartans, however, drew even yet again as the game saw its eighth tie at 12-12 with 5:06 to go. Aurora took their first lead since the first quarter with a goal with 2:21 on the clock. Alexis Fady came up with a big save on the next Aurora possession to keep the game alive for the Belles, but the Aurora goalie added a save in the final minute to preserve the one-goal decision in the 13-12 final.

 

Bridget Kane had a game-high five goals and added an assist to pace the Saint Mary's offensive efforts. The senior added a team-best seven ground balls, came away with four draw controls, and caused two turnovers. Erin Dotson posted two goals, and Katie Haas notched two goals, three caused turnovers, four draw controls, and five ground balls. Sarah Frick had a goal, an assist, three draw controls, a ground ball, and a caused turnover. Shannon McCloskey tallied a goal and four ground balls. Gabby Belsito added a goal, a caused turnover, and a ground ball. The defense was led by Valentina Rubio's four ground balls and three caused turnovers along with Elizabeth Bourassa's career-high four ground balls. Lindsey Herdsman added three ground balls and a caused turnover. Alexis Fady made seven saves in goal for the Belles.

 

Saint Mary's (4-4) begins conference play on Friday when the Belles travel to Hope for a 6:00 p.m. contest against the Flying Dutch.