KENOSHA, Wis. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team came up short in a 21-10 final at Carthage on Saturday afternoon.

 

The Lady Reds took a lead in the first minute of play after winning the draw and scoring on their first attempt of the day. The hosts added to the lead less than three minutes later. Erin Doyle got the Belles on the scoreboard with a free position goal two minutes later, and Katie Haas knotted things up with a goal with 23:15 on the clock. Carthage regained the lead, but Kendra Osinski buried a response goal on a feed from Taylor Overstreet. The Lady Reds pulled ahead by a goal again at 4-3 with 19:48 on the clock. Bridget Kane drew Saint Mary's even a minute later, and Doyle gave the Belles a 5-4 lead 38 seconds after Kane's goal. Carthage, however, took all of the momentum by scoring eight unanswered goals over the final 11 minutes of the opening half as the Lady Reds took a 13-5 lead into the break.

 

Saint Mary's was able to edge within seven goals on two occasions in the second half but could not make a needed run to get any closer. Despite the setback, the Belles showed marked improvement in several areas in the second period. The defense cut Carthage's shot total by nine over the final 30 minutes of play compared to the first half, and the team committed fewer turnovers than their counterparts during the second stanza. Ground balls were a near deadlock for the duration of the contest.

 

Kendra Osinski scored four goals and added an assist with a pair of caused turnovers. Erin Doyle added a hat trick with two ground balls, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers. Bridget Kane had a goal, an assist, and a team-best six draw controls. Katie Haas chipped in a goal, an assist, and four ground balls. Gabby Belsito posted a goal, and Taylor Overstreet had an assist. Emily Kraker made five saves over the opening 30 minutes of play, and Kaleigh Fitzgerald collected three saves over the second half of action.

 

The Belles (0-2) stay in the Badger State and will play at Carroll on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CST.