NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Trailing for much of the second half, the Saint Mary's lacrosse team tied the game twice in the final five minutes of play before claiming a 14-13 overtime victory over visiting Kalamazoo on Tuesday evening.

 

Erin Doyle gave the Belles the early lead, but the visiting Hornets posted the next three goals for a 3-1 advantage with 21:11 on the clock. Katie Haas broke up the scoring spurt less than two minutes later. Kalamazoo regained a two-goal advantage with 15:49 on the clock. The next nine-plus minutes of action saw both goalies come up with key saves and both defenses locking down the opposing side's offensive efforts. Bridget Kane broke up the scoring drought with a free position goal with 6:25 on the scoreboard, and Katie Haas added a goal less than a minute later to pull the Belles even with the Hornets at 4-4. Kalamazoo responded with back-to-back goals of their own, but Saint Mary's closed out the final 3:24 of the half with four consecutive goals to hold an 8-6 lead at the halftime break.

 

Kalamazoo quickly tied the game with a pair of goals in the opening three minutes, and the Hornets added three more goals for an 11-8 lead midway through the half. The game, however, was far from decided at that point. Erin Doyle and Gabby Belsito registered back-to-back goals in the span of 37 seconds to pull the Belles within one at 11-10 with 8:51 remaining in the half. The Hornets tallied a free position goal, but Belsito struck again to make it a one-goal game with 6:18 to play. Erin Doyle then tied the game with under five minutes remaining. Kalamazoo came back with a quick goal of their own as the Hornets held the 13-12 lead with 3:37 on the clock. The Belles' defense came up with a pair of big caused turnovers to stop the Kalamazoo clear attempt twice in the final three minutes of the second half. Erin Doyle then drew a free position opportunity with 1:51 remaining. The senior found a wide open Bridget Kane at the top of the critical scoring area and sent a pass to the junior, and Kane beat the goalie with 1:47 on the clock to tie the game. Erin Dotson gave the Belles a chance late in regulation to potentially net the game-winner as the sophomore had a key caused turnover and ground ball, but Saint Mary's was unable to get a shot off on the other end of the field as the clock expired.

 

In the overtime period, the Belles maintained possession after a free position shot by Erin Doyle was blocked. On that extended possession, Doyle found a cutting Katie Haas in the middle of the critical scoring area, and Haas buried the game-winner with 1:25 on the clock for the 14-13 final.

 

Erin Doyle posted five goals - including the 250th of her career - along with three assists to lead the Belles. Katie Haas netted the game-winner with 1:25 left in the overtime period as the junior tallied three goals on the night while also causing three turnovers. Bridget Kane posted two goals and an assist while coming away with four draw controls. Gabby Belsito added two goals, and Erin Dotson collected a goal and two assists. Molly Mullett had a goal and a team-best six draw controls while Elizabeth Bourassa posted her first collegiate point with an assist. Lindsey Herdsman led the way with five caused turnovers on the night. Emily Kraker collected the win in goal while making 15 saves.

 

The Belles (3-2) conclude their four-game home stand on Saturday when they host Adrian at 1:00 p.m.