
Posted: Apr 14, 2021
ADRIAN, Mich. - A pair of scoring runs in the first half helped propel the Saint Mary's lacrosse team to a 20-10 conference win over Adrian on Wednesday afternoon.
The host Bulldogs got on the scoreboard quickly with a goal in the opening minute, but the Belles responded with a goal on the next possession as Bridget Kane made it a 1-1 game. Adrian won the next draw control and capitalized on the chance with a goal for a 2-1 Bulldogs lead less than three minutes into the game. Kane came away with the ensuing draw control, and Erin Doyle scored a free position goal to tie the game at 2-2. The Belles then dialed up the offensive production as Katie Haas, Erin Dotson, and Gabby Belsito combined to score four consecutive goals to put Saint Mary's ahead 6-2.
Adrian tried to work their way back into the game with back-to-back goals, but Emily Kraker came up with a pair of saves - including a stop on a free position shot - to keep Saint Mary's up by multiple goals. That second save saw the Belles turn defense into offense as Gabby Belsito drew a free position attempt and converted the chance just 20 seconds after Kraker's stop. Katie Haas added a quick goal 32 second later, and Belsito and Haas each added another goal as the Belles ballooned their lead to 10-4 with 7:21 on the clock. Kraker posted another save, and Kane, Dotson, and Doyle each buried a shot in the span of 1:21 late in the period to put Saint Mary's up 13-4. Adrian broke up the scoring streak with a goal with 19 seconds remaining in the half, but Erin Doyle made sure the Belles had the momentum going into break with a goal 14 seconds later to make it 14-5 at halftime.
Katie Haas forced the Adrian goalie into a turnover, picked up the ground ball, and scored a goal early in the second half to start the running clock as the Belles went ahead 15-5. Kraker tacked on another save to preserve the 10-goal lead, but the Bulldogs edged back within nine with 20:58 on the clock. Another Adrian goal two-and-a-half minutes later made it a 15-7 game. The Belles responded with three consecutive goals - two by Erin Doyle and one by Katie Haas - to go up 18-7 with 13:34 to play. Doyle buried another goal two minutes later as the Belles held a 19-7 lead with under 12 minutes remaining. After an Adrian goal made it 19-8, Alexis Fady entered the game and proceeded to pick up a ground ball and save the first shot on goal she faced as the clock moved below the four-minute mark. The Bulldogs netted a goal with 2:52 to play and added a late goal, but Erin Doyle capped off the game with a quick goal off the ensuing draw control for the 20-10 final.
Erin Doyle led all players with seven goals and 11 points while adding four assists in the win. Katie Haas registered a season-high five goals while adding an assist, six draw controls, and a team-high five ground balls. Erin Dotson had three goals, four assists, a career-high seven points, and two ground balls. Gabby Belsito chalked up a hat trick with three goals and an assist to go along with a pair of ground balls. Bridget Kane added a balanced stat line with two goals, three assists, three ground balls, and two caused turnovers. The junior also surpassed the 100 career ground ball plateau in the game, becoming the eighth player in program history to reach the century mark in the category. Molly Mullett had a game-high nine draw controls and picked up three ground balls, and Sarah Frick tallied three ground balls and three caused turnovers. Emily Kraker made five saves in goal, and Alexis Fady added a save over the final 7:17 of the game.
The Belles (9-4, 5-1 MIAA) return home for the regular season finale and will host Albion on Saturday, April 17 starting at 1:00 p.m.