NOTRE DAME, Ind. - An early goal by visiting Olivet was the difference in a 1-0 final for the Saint Mary's soccer team on a cold and rainy Tuesday afternoon.

 

The Comets capitalized on a chance in the third minute of play for the quick advantage. Grace Barresi sent a shot from the top of the box wide right in the ninth minute, and Jillian Bowen had a shot saved in the eleventh minute. Saint Mary's continued to press the Olivet back line as the Belles earned four corner kicks over the next eleven minutes of play. Kaitlyn Day won the ball back after that fourth corner kick and had a well-placed pass in the attacking third to Mary Kaczynski, but Kaczynski's effort went just wide of the right post in the 24th minute. After a save by Kara Stacey, Bowen added a shot from the left side of the box in the 26th minute that sailed wide right. Day had a threatening service deflected by a center back inside the box with under 18 minutes remaining in the half, and a strong effort by Barresi with eight minutes to play to dribble up the wet field saw the sophomore play a ball into space toward Day on the right flank that skipped just beyond the junior on the right touchline. Abaigeal Patnode rocketed a free kick from more than 30 yards out toward the right post only to have the effort caught in the 39th minute as the game remained 1-0 at the half.

 

Saint Mary's controlled big stretches of possession during the second period of play as the Belles pushed to try to net the equalizer. Kara Stacey collected an early save before Kaitlyn Day had a pair of crosses from the right side of the box skip through the box. A corner kick by Bowen found its way from Grace Barresi to Sydney Skarbek in the box, but Skarbek's shot was smothered at the goal line. In the 62nd minute, Lindsey Adent had a well-paced service find its way over the top of the Comets' defense, but the Belles were unable to materialize a scoring chance on the play. A shot by Ava Slater tailed wide right, and Patnode's effort in the box on a corner kick play also skipped wide right of the goal in the 67th minute. Sophia Fleming had a strike from outside the box carry high, and two more attempts by Barresi in the 71st and 72nd minute were unable to find the back of the net. Stacey had a big save in the 78th minute as the sophomore punched a shot over the crossbar and out of play. Mary Kacyznski had one last look at goal for the Belles in the 89th minute, but her attempt was saved as the Comets took the 1-0 decision. 

 

Saint Mary's had 13 corner kicks in the contest compared to Olivet's three. The Comets had a 6-5 edge in shots on goal while the two sides were even with 12 total shots in the match. 

 

Grace Barresi collected three shots. Jillian Bowen, Mary Kaczynski, and Abaigeal Patnode each registered two shots. Ava Slate, Sydney Skarbek, and Sophia Fleming each tallied a shot. Kara Stacey made five saves in goal.

The Belles (0-11-3, 0-6 MIAA) are on the road on Saturday as they travel to Alma to take on the Scots at 4:00 p.m.