NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team came up on the short end of a 20-8 final against Calvin on Wednesday evening.

 

Calvin struck first with a free position goal early before adding a second goal almost two minutes later. Reese Bauer had the response for the Belles with a free position goal with 11:19 on the clock. Emma Zmudzinski had a big save with under nine minutes on the clock while the Belles put three shots on goal in a five-minute span in the quarter. Calvin, however, was the team to strike next with a free position goal. The Knights added two more goals in quick succession for a 5-1 lead with 3:25 on the clock, and a late free position goal gave the visiting side a 6-1 lead at the end of the first period.

 

The Saint Mary's defense kept Calvin at bay to open the second quarter, and the pressure from the Belles led to a failed clear attempt less than three minutes into the period. That stop led to a free position chance, and Cate Krema buried the shot from just inside the eight-meter mark to make it 6-2. Emma Zmudzinski posted another save, and another failed clear by Calvin led to a second goal by Krema to cut the deficit to three at 6-3. The Knights came back with a goal moments later, and free position goal by Calvin with under seven minutes remaining made it an 8-3 score. The Belles continued to battle, and another save by Zmudzinski followed by a ground ball pick up by Elizabeth Bourassa allowed the Belles to get going in transition. That chance culminated in a pass from Christiana Singler to Reese Bauer in the critical scoring area as Bauer buried the shot from close range to make it 8-4. Calvin added a goal with just under four minutes on the clock only to see Bauer put away another goal 15 seconds later. The Knights, however, closed out the final three minutes of the period with three goals to gain a 12-5 lead.

 

Calvin posted three goals in the opening five minutes of the third to go ahead 15-5. Lana Skibins, however, quickly put a stop to the running clock by sneaking a shot between the Calvin goalie's legs for a goal with 9:41 on the clock. The Knights countered with a goal of their own, but Skibins put away her second goal of the period with under two minutes on the clock to make it 16-7. Calvin again built late momentum in the quarter with a goal with five seconds remaining for a 17-7 advantage going into the fourth period.

Emma Zmudzinski posted three saves over the opening six minutes of the fourth, but the Knights were able to extend their lead to 20-7 with five minutes to go. Alyssa Grant regained control of a loose ball in the critical scoring area right in front of the goal, and the sophomore capitalized on the chance with a goal with two minutes remaining. The defense stood tall at the end of the game as the Belles blocked a shot before Zmudzinski smothered a shot on a free position chance late in the 20-8 final.

 

Reese Bauer posted three goals on three shots and added a career-high five draw controls. Cate Krema and Lana Skibins each tallied two goals for the Belles. Alyssa Grant had a goal, an assist, and five draw controls. Christiana Singler put up an assist, two ground balls, a draw control, and a caused turnover. Kelsey King came away with four ground balls and a caused turnover, and Elizabeth Bourassa picked up a pair of ground balls. Julia Gorski, Mary Grace Heekin, Valentina Rubio, Sophia Delgado and Marina De Castro Vasconcelos each registered a ground ball while Vasconcelos added a pair of caused turnovers. Emma Zmudzinski posted 11 saves with four ground balls in the contest.

 

The Belles (1-12, 0-6 MIAA) wrap up their season on Saturday when they travel to Hope for a 1:00 p.m. conference game.