NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team captured the program's first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament Championship and berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship with a 14-13 victory over third-seeded Hope on Saturday.

 

The Belles struck first with a goal in transition by Erin Doyle two minutes into the contest. Hope used a caused turnover and an extended possession to score their first goal, but the Belles came back less than a minute later to regain the lead on a goal by Gabby Belsito. Doyle won the ensuing draw, and Belsito buried her second goal of the game for a 3-1 lead as Hope called a timeout with 22:41 on the clock. After a Flying Dutch goal made it 3-2, the Belles found the response with a patient offensive set as Saint Mary's worked the possession clock until Bridget Kane scored with less than 20 seconds remaining on the shot clock for a 4-2 advantage. Belsito completed the early hat trick 38 seconds later to give Saint Mary's a 5-2 advantage with 19:12 on the clock.

 

Emily Kraker made a pair of saves in the span of less than a minute, but the Flying Dutch broke through for a goal with 14:13 remaining in the period to edge within one. Hope then pulled even with a goal on their next possession to knot the game at 5-5. Erin Doyle regained the lead for Saint Mary's, but the Flying Dutch countered with a goal on their next chance to make it 6-6. After another patient run of the offense, Erin Dotson buried a goal for a 7-6 lead as the Flying Dutch made a goalie change. A successful re-defend a minute later led to a goal by Kaite Haas as Saint Mary's went up 8-6 with 6:50 on the clock. Hope tallied two quick goals to pull even again, but Kraker ensured the Flying Dutch did not take the lead with a free position save. Another re-defend yielded a goal by Erin Doyle with 1:14 remaining in the period for a 9-8 lead for the Belles. Hope, however, carried some momentum into the halftime break as the Flying Dutch scored just before the clock expired to make it a 9-9 game.

 

Erin Doyle struck twice in the opening ten minutes of the second half before adding a third goal with 16:15 on the clock. Gabby Belsito scored quickly off the draw control by Molly Mullett, and Belsito buried her fifth goal of the game just over a minute later to give Saint Mary's a 14-9 lead with 15:10 to play. Hope tallied back-to-back goals to make it 14-11 with 11:49 remaining. The Belles dialed up the defense while Kraker made yet another save, but the Flying Dutch edged within two on a free position goal five minutes later. Kraker picked up two more saves on Hope free position chances to keep the multi-goal lead late for Saint Mary's. Hope saw their defense turn to offense with a goal with 1:24 to play, but Katie Haas came away with the next draw control and the Belles ran out the clock for the 14-13 win.

 

Saint Mary's had a 20-8 advantage in draw controls over Hope as both teams committed 23 turnovers. The Belles never trailed in the contest as the score was tied five times. With the win, Saint Mary's established a new program record for wins in a season (13) and carries the longest winning streak in school history (8) going into the NCAA Tournament.

 

Erin Doyle led all players with six goals as she added a game-high four caused turnovers while collecting seven draw controls. Gabby Belsito registered a career-high five goals and tallied an assist. Bridget Kane added a goal and four assists along with three draw controls and two caused turnovers. Katie Haas scored a goal, posted two assists, and Erin Dotson had a goal and an assist. Molly Mullett had a game-high eight draw controls to go with an assist, and Shannon McCloskey collected an assist. Sarah Frick had three ground balls and three caused turnovers. Emily Kraker corralled eight saves in goal.

 

The Belles (13-4) will find out their opening round opponent in the 2021 Division III NCAA Tournament when the selection show airs on Monday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m.