NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Trailing 2-0 with under ten minutes remaining in the second half, the Saint Mary's soccer team scored twice in a span of 1:35 to tie the game and earn the draw against Lake Forest on Saturday afternoon.

 

An early shot by Sophia Fleming was stopped, and the Belles had another strong scoring chance in the 14th minute after building pressure against the Foresters. Grace Barresi played wide to Kaitlyn Day on the right flank. Day served the ball into the box, where Mary Kaczynski let the ball carry to the penalty spot for Jillian Bowen. Bowen hit a one-timer low and with pace, but her shot was saved at the line. The next solid scoring chance for the Belles came in the 25th minute. Izzi Linus battled for possession before the ball made its way to Felicity Matthews at the top of the 18-yard box. Matthews squared her way back to the goal and sent a shot on frame only to have the Lake Forest goalkeeper make the save. The Foresters used some high pressure in the 34th minute to regain possession. A slot pass into the box led a Lake Forest player toward the goal before a low shot found the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage. 

 

Kara Stacey made a save in the opening two minutes and Grace Barresi had a shot early in the second half that went wide left of the goal frame as the two sides battled for possession and an edge in momentum. That advantage appeared to go to Lake Forest as the Foresters found the back of the net for a second time in the 79th minute. The Belles, however, had other plans with a response two minutes later. Barresi challenged a center back to toe poke the ball away and into space at the top of the box for Felicity Matthews, and Matthews curled a shot up over the goalkeeper and in for a massive burst of energy for the home side while cutting the deficit in half. Saint Mary's earned a corner kick just moments later, and a handball gave the Belles a free kick deep in their offensive third. Kaitlyn Day fired a shot off of that ensuing free kick and found the side netting inside the right post of the goal to tie the game in the 83rd minute. Saint Mary's nearly found the equalizer with five minutes to go. A mis-hit clear attempt by the Lake Forest goalkeeper was picked up by Barresi on the right side of the box. Barresi sent a cross into toward a wide open Mary Kaczynski, but the Foresters' goalkeeper recovered quickly and dove to push away the ball from Kaczynski's all-but-sure game-winner. 

 

Felicity Matthews scored her second collegiate goal of the season while Kaitlyn Day registered her first goal in a Belles uniform. Grace Barresi picked up the first point of her career with the Belles with an assist. Kara Stacey made six saves in goal for Saint Mary's in the tie.

 

The Belles (0-4-3) have their third consecutive home match on Wednesday as they host Anderson at 7:00 p.m.