Posted: Sep 13, 2023
ANDERSON, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team fell just short in a 3-2 final at Anderson after the host Ravens scored the game-winner in the final minute on Wednesday evening.
The Belles had the better of the scoring chances throughout the first half of the contest on Wednesday evening. A strong cross in toward Grace Reyda from the right side of the field carried long in the opening two minutes of play. Less than a minute later, the Belles continued to push and earned back-to-back corner kicks but were unable to connect on either chance. Saint Mary's again regained possession as Grace Brown played a pass ahead for Grace Reyda. Reyda slotted a pass into space for Marina C. Vasconcelos as the Ravens defense played the ball out for a third corner kick. Saint Mary's just missed on capitalizing on a loose ball in the box in the fifth minute of play.
Anderson had a chance in transition with a 1v1 with a player and Caroline Miklavcic, and Miklavcic quickly read the play, came off her line, and made the sliding save off the foot of the Ravens player in the 13th minute. A chance in transition 15 minutes into play was whistled down for the Belles with an offside call. A free kick in the 17th minute led to a corner kick for the Belles, Marina tried to use a back-heel chance to redirect the ball for a shot that was blocked, and Kaitlyn Day had a chance on the resulting loose ball go wide right but out for another corner. Lauren Ryan continued the onslaught of shots with an attempt that was off the mark. A free kick for the Belles in the 21st minute led to a loose ball in the box, and Marina C. Vasconcelos beat out the defender to the ball in the box, cut a shot back across the mouth of the goal, and put away her first collegiate goal to put the Belles up 1-0.
Saint Mary's continued to hold longer stretches of possession with a higher frequency of passes into the attacking third. Each of those chances, however, seemed to carry too long and out of play, resulting in defensive clearances or goal kicks for the Ravens. With under ten minutes remaining in the opening half, the Belles transitioned from defense to offense quickly. A ball played ahead by Cristina Martinez was met by Margaret Slove. Slove worked past her defender and bent a shot from the left side toward the right post only to have the effort punched away by the Ravens goalkeeper. That high offensive pressure by the Belles continued late with Mary Kaczynski registering a shot just wide right moments before Margaret Slove had a point-blank effort saved inside the six-yard box. A foul by the Ravens in the box with under five minutes to go gave the Belles a penalty kick, and Izzi Linus buried the chance from the spot for the 2-0 lead at the half.
The Belles forced the Ravens into a well-off-the-mark shot to open the second period. Ten minutes later, the Belles won the ball back in the midfield and quickly pushed it ahead as Layne Ridderman could not quite get her shot wide of the keeper. The play continued to be back and forth for much of the second half with neither side getting a solid look at goal until the final ten minutes of action. The Ravens regained possession in their attacking end and had a long-range shot go off the crossbar before the rebound was put in for a goal in the 81st minute. Anderson quickly tied the game with a goal a minute later to knot the game at 2-2.
Kaitlyn Day had a well-placed cross with over eight minutes to go just miss her targeted teammate in the box as the Belles looked to regain momentum and the lead. Saint Mary's continued to keep Anderson pressed deep defensively, and the Belles responded by forcing the Ravens into a rushed chance with seven minutes on the clock. Another battle by the Belles to regain possession led to a strong, bending shot by Grace Brown from 25 yards out, which ultimately tailed wide right. Saint Mary's drew a foul to earn a free kick which then led to a corner kick. On that ensuing possession, Grace Barresi had a turning shot from above the box bounce toward the left post before being saved. The Ravens got a free kick with 40 seconds remaining in the game and took advantage of the chance from just outside of the box with a goal for the 3-2 final.
Marina C. Vasconcelos registered her first collegiate goal, and Izzi Linus added her second career goal for the Belles. Margaret Slove added three shots on goal. Grace Barresi and Layne Ridderman each had a shot on goal. Kaitlyn Day, Mary Kaczynski, Cristina Martinez, Grace Brown, and Lauren Ryan each registered a shot in the game. Caroline Miklavcic posted a save in goal for the Belles.
Saint Mary's (1-3) are back on the pitch on Friday when they travel to Lake Forest for a 4:30 p.m. CDT (5:30 p.m. EDT) contest against the Foresters.
Anderson had a chance in transition with a 1v1 with a player and Caroline Miklavcic, and Miklavcic quickly read the play, came off her line, and made the sliding save off the foot of the Ravens player in the 13th minute. A chance in transition 15 minutes into play was whistled down for the Belles with an offside call. A free kick in the 17th minute led to a corner kick for the Belles, Marina tried to use a back-heel chance to redirect the ball for a shot that was blocked, and Kaitlyn Day had a chance on the resulting loose ball go wide right but out for another corner. Lauren Ryan continued the onslaught of shots with an attempt that was off the mark. A free kick for the Belles in the 21st minute led to a loose ball in the box, and Marina C. Vasconcelos beat out the defender to the ball in the box, cut a shot back across the mouth of the goal, and put away her first collegiate goal to put the Belles up 1-0.
Saint Mary's continued to hold longer stretches of possession with a higher frequency of passes into the attacking third. Each of those chances, however, seemed to carry too long and out of play, resulting in defensive clearances or goal kicks for the Ravens. With under ten minutes remaining in the opening half, the Belles transitioned from defense to offense quickly. A ball played ahead by Cristina Martinez was met by Margaret Slove. Slove worked past her defender and bent a shot from the left side toward the right post only to have the effort punched away by the Ravens goalkeeper. That high offensive pressure by the Belles continued late with Mary Kaczynski registering a shot just wide right moments before Margaret Slove had a point-blank effort saved inside the six-yard box. A foul by the Ravens in the box with under five minutes to go gave the Belles a penalty kick, and Izzi Linus buried the chance from the spot for the 2-0 lead at the half.
The Belles forced the Ravens into a well-off-the-mark shot to open the second period. Ten minutes later, the Belles won the ball back in the midfield and quickly pushed it ahead as Layne Ridderman could not quite get her shot wide of the keeper. The play continued to be back and forth for much of the second half with neither side getting a solid look at goal until the final ten minutes of action. The Ravens regained possession in their attacking end and had a long-range shot go off the crossbar before the rebound was put in for a goal in the 81st minute. Anderson quickly tied the game with a goal a minute later to knot the game at 2-2.
Kaitlyn Day had a well-placed cross with over eight minutes to go just miss her targeted teammate in the box as the Belles looked to regain momentum and the lead. Saint Mary's continued to keep Anderson pressed deep defensively, and the Belles responded by forcing the Ravens into a rushed chance with seven minutes on the clock. Another battle by the Belles to regain possession led to a strong, bending shot by Grace Brown from 25 yards out, which ultimately tailed wide right. Saint Mary's drew a foul to earn a free kick which then led to a corner kick. On that ensuing possession, Grace Barresi had a turning shot from above the box bounce toward the left post before being saved. The Ravens got a free kick with 40 seconds remaining in the game and took advantage of the chance from just outside of the box with a goal for the 3-2 final.
Marina C. Vasconcelos registered her first collegiate goal, and Izzi Linus added her second career goal for the Belles. Margaret Slove added three shots on goal. Grace Barresi and Layne Ridderman each had a shot on goal. Kaitlyn Day, Mary Kaczynski, Cristina Martinez, Grace Brown, and Lauren Ryan each registered a shot in the game. Caroline Miklavcic posted a save in goal for the Belles.
Saint Mary's (1-3) are back on the pitch on Friday when they travel to Lake Forest for a 4:30 p.m. CDT (5:30 p.m. EDT) contest against the Foresters.