GEORGETOWN, Texas - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team saw their lead cut down to two goals late in the second half, but the Belles possessed the ball for the final 1:48 while scoring an insurance goal on their way to a 14-11 win over Wittenberg on Tuesday evening at Southwestern University.

 

Wittenberg scored on their first possession of the game, but the Belles got back-to-back goals by Kendra Osinski and Erin Doyle to take their first lead of the contest. The Tigers responded with three consecutive goals over the next seven minutes of action for a 4-2 lead. Saint Mary's, however, got right back into the mix after Katie Haas cut through the Tigers' defense before burying a goal. That goal sparked a run of nine consecutive goals for Saint Mary's over the final 15:14 of the first half and the first 5:33 of the second half as the Belles took control of the game. Erin Doyle, Erin Dotson, and Kendra Osinski each scored a pair during the run in the first half for a 9-4 Saint Mary's lead at the break.

 

Emily Kraker made three key saves during that run, and Shannon McCloskey picked up an assist on an Erin Doyle goal to open the second half. Doyle sent home another goal two and a half minutes later for the 11-4 lead. The Tigers did not go quietly as Wittenberg posted four goals in the span of 5:24 to make it an 11-8 game with 13:28 remaining. After a timeout, the Belles won the next draw control, and Bridget Kane put Saint Mary's back on the scoreboard with a goal. The Tigers responded less than a minute later, but the Belles dug in defensively over the next five-plus minutes. Kane caused a turnover, and Kraker came up with another save with 8:11 to play. Doyle scored her sixth goal of the game off of a pass from Osinski to make it 13-9.

 

Wittenberg then called a timeout in an attempt to make a late push. The Belles had three shots on goal saved and another shot blocked, and the Tigers used those defensive stops to put a pair of goals on the scoreboard to make it 13-11 with 1:48 to go. Erin Doyle won the next draw control, and the junior all but secured the win with a goal with under 20 seconds remaining on the possession clock. Doyle came away with the next draw, and the Belles were able to run out the final 20 seconds of the game in the 14-11 final.

 

The Belles out-shot the Tigers 41-25 in the game and had a 15-12 edge in draw controls. Saint Mary's committed just 14 turnovers to Wittenberg's 25 in the game.

 

Erin Doyle scored a game-high seven goals and added a career-high 10 draw controls. Kendra Osinski had a five-point effort with three goals and two assists as the senior moved into fourth place all-time in career assists in Saint Mary's lacrosse history. Erin Dotson posted her first collegiate multi-goal performance with two goals. Katie Haas added a goal and an assist. Bridget Kane tied the school record for ground balls in a game with 11 as the sophomore also posted a goal. Shannon McCloskey tallied an assist, and Molly Mullett had a game-high three caused turnovers. Emily Kraker posted seven saves in goal.

 

The Belles (3-3) are back in action on Wednesday, March 18 when they host North Central at 6:00 p.m.