NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team was strong from start to finish in a 2-0 win over crosstown foe IU-South Bend in the Belles' home opener on Wednesday evening.

 

The Belles had the upper hand in chances throughout the contest. Margaret Slove saw a well-paced shot tail up and wide-right of the goal in the fourth minute of action. Caroline Miklavcic corralled the first shot on goal she faced in the sixth minute. Slove added another shot - this time on goal - in the tenth minute of play. That effort led to a corner kick for the Belles. The initial cross on that corner was played out of the box by a Titans player only to have the ball settle at the feet of Lauren Ryan. Ryan got fully behind a shot from the top-right of the box and sent a rocket into the top-right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. 

 

The Belles dialed up the offensive pressure another notch over the next 25-plus minutes of action. Slove played a ball ahead for Izzi Linus, and Linus sent a dangerous cross into the box only to have the effort intercepted by the Titans' goalkeeper. Moments later, Mary Kaczynski had a dangerous chance blocked inside the box off of a cross from Kaitlyn Day. Less than a minute later, Kaczynski had another chance as a loose ball turned into a shot at the top of the box as the Belles played much of the opening half in their offensive end. Grace Barresi had a mid-range chip shot go on goal but was saved in the 29th minute. Saint Mary's used their continued pressure to break through for a second goal in the 36th minute of play. A ball played ahead by the IU-South Bend goalkeeper was won back by Grace Brown, who then saw the keeper off the line and lofted a shot from long range over the netminder and in for her first collegiate goal and a 2-0 lead. A pair of saves late in the opening period by Miklavcic maintained the 2-0 advantage going into the halftime break.

 

Margaret Slove and Lindsey Adent each had a shot on goal in the second half as the Belles continued to maintain possession at a greater rate than the Titans. A cross by Grace Brown into the box toward Grace Reyda at the far post led to a corner kick late. Reyda nearly put away a loose ball in the box on the ensuing corner kick only to see her effort go just wide of the left post. Caroline Miklavcic closed out the shutout with a save in the 87th minute, and the Belles took the 2-0 victory on their home pitch.

 

Lauren Ryan registered her first collegiate goal, which was also good for the game-winner in the match. Grace Brown added the Belles' second goal - also her first collegiate goal in just her second match for Saint Mary's - on her sole shot of the game. Mary Kaczynski posted a handful of shots with one on goal. Margaret Slove added three shots with two on goal. Seven players registered a shot in the contest for the Belles as Saint Mary's out-shot IU-South Bend 18-8 and 10-5 on shots on goal. Caroline Miklavcic collected five saves on her way to the shutout victory in goal for the Belles.

Saint Mary's (1-1) is set to host DePauw on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.