NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team scored four goals in the span of less than 19 minutes in the first half of play to take a 4-0 home victory over Great Lakes Christian on Friday night.

 

The Belles held possession and had all the pressure early on against the Crusaders. Layne Ridderman, Margaret Slove, and Marina C. Vasconcelos all had shots in the opening ten minutes of action. Saint Mary's broke through in the 13th minute after a give-and-go passing sequence between Slove and Ridderman saw Slove put away the opening goal of the game. Less than two minutes later, Grace Barresi sent a long-range shot off of a free kick just under the crossbar and in for a 2-0 lead. Slove had a pair of shots while Caroline Miklavcic came up with a save on the first shot on goal she faced. 

 

A foul in the box by the Crusaders against the Belles led to a penalty kick. Grace Reyda stepped up to the spot and converted the chance for her first collegiate goal. Katie Harrington had a chance saved moments after subbing onto the pitch. Slove continued a run on a ball that initially carried long and into the box beyond the freshman, but the Great Lakes Christian goalkeeper and a defender both tried to play the ball simultaneously. The result was that the ball became loose in the box, and Slove pounced on the chance and put away her second goal of the game for a 4-0 lead in the 31st minute. Izzi Linus, Grace Barresi, and Brynn Stauffacher each registered a shot over the final ten-plus minutes of the half, but the score remained 4-0 in favor of the Belles at the break.

 

Layne Ridderman had an early chance, and a combination play by the Belles built up to a shot by Izzi Linus in the box to open the second half. Seven minutes later, a corner kick for Saint Mary's gave Mary Kaczynski a chance in the box. The junior's effort was blocked as the pressure continued. The Belles nearly added to their lead in the 61st minute. A cross by Izzi Linus into the box was met by Layne Ridderman, and Ridderman chipped a shot seemingly over the Crusaders' goalkeeper. The keeper recovered and batted the ball off the line and out of the goal to keep the score at 4-0. In the 71st minute, Kaczynski had another look at goal. Grace Brown fed a pass centrally to Katie Harrington, and Harrington connected with Kaczynski. The junior's shot was on the right trajectory for goal but was punched away with a save. Kaczynski added two more shots, and the defense shut down the Crusaders over the remainder of the contest to preserve the 4-0 victory.

 

Saint Mary's outshot Great Lakes Christian 25-2 in the match with a 12-1 advantage in shots on goal.

 

Margaret Slove had her second brace in three games with the game-winning goal in the 13th minute followed by a goal in the 31st minute. Grace Barresi registered her second goal of the season, and Grace Reyda posted her first collegiate goal by converting a penalty opportunity in the 24th minute. Nine different players registered at least one shot in the contest for Saint Mary's. Caroline Miklavcic had a save and earned her fourth shutout victory of the season in goal.

 

The Belles (4-3) hosts Franklin on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.