NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team was unable to capitalize on the energy of Senior Day in a 2-0 setback against Kalamazoo on Saturday.

 

The Belles had several chances throughout the first half of action. Mary Kaczynski played a pass ahead for Jillian Bowen as Bowen's effort tailed wide left in the 12th minute. Two minutes later, Grace Barresi pushed a pass to the right flank for Emily Stross, and Stross served a high cross in toward goal only to have the effort sail on top of the goal and out of play. Kaczynski added a shot on goal in the 17th minute as the Belles continued to keep the pressure on while staying composed defensively against some chances by the Hornets. 

 

A string of passes from Kaczysnki to Kaitlyn Day and into the box yielded a threatening chance in the 26th minute, but a shot by Bowen on the volley was off the mark. With under ten minutes remaining in the opening stanza, the Belles again had a series of strong scoring chances. Izzy Sherman won possession back in the midfield and played a perfectly-weighted pass into open space for Grace Barresi. Barresi raced ahead toward a 1v1 with the goalkeeper, and the Kalamazoo keeper came up with the save off the line to keep the game scoreless. The Belles kept a corner kick alive after that same play as Barresi was in the right place at the right time but was unable to get off a clean shot in the box. The Hornets broke into the scoring column in the 40th minute for the 1-0 lead. Saint Mary's had a look at an equalizer two minutes later. Sophia Fleming had a cross into the box toward the far post, and Kaitlyn Day jumped up for the header shot only to see the attempt carry wide right of the post.

 

Saint Mary's controlled much of the possession in the opening ten minutes of the second half of play. Lindsey Adent sent a slot pass into the box for Jillian Bowen, but simultaneous contact by the senior and a Kalamazoo defender did not allow Bowen to get off the close-range shot. Moments later, Katilyn Day had a shot on goal saved in the 57th minute. The Belles pushed the tempo and the backline but were called for a pair of offside plays during that same stretch of play. In the 62nd minute, Kaczynski won possession back for Saint Mary's in the Belles' offensive third and slipped a pass ahead for Day. Day took a shot from the edge of the box which carried high and off the mark. Saint Mary's earned three corner kicks over the next 12 minutes of play to continue to force the issue. In the 75th minute, Kalamazoo took all of the hard-earned momentum from Saint Mary's with their second goal of the game for a 2-0 lead. Lindsey Adent put a shot just wide of the post a minute later, but the Belles were unable to translate a scoring opportunity into a goal down the stretch in the 2-0 final.

 

Kaitlyn Day registered three shots while Jillian Bowen and Grace Barresi each had two shots. Lindsey Adent, Mary Kaczynski, and Janelle Aiello each tallied a shot for the Belles. Riley Lindsey made three saves in goal.

 

The Belles (0-10-3, 0-5 MIAA) are back on their home pitch on Tuesday to host Olivet a 4:00 p.m.