ADRIAN, Mich. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team outscored Adrian 6-2 in the fourth quarter to take a 13-8 win at Adrian on Saturday.

 

The Belles struck first with Alyssa Grant putting away a goal 1:05 into the game before adding a second goal with 11:52 on the clock off a pass from Valentina Rubio. Saint Mary's turned defense into offense two minutes later with Molly Mullett finding the back of the net after another feed from Rubio for a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs won the draw and scored a quick goal to get on the scoreboard, but the Belles responded with another Grant goal with 6:54 on the clock to make it 4-1. Saint Mary's peppered the Adrian goalie with shots on goal, Emma Zmudzinski made a stop of her own, and Erin Dotson put away a goal after a pass threaded by Grant for a 5-1 lead late in the quarter. 

 

Adrian scored back-to-back goals in the second quarter to edge within two with 6:50 on the clock. Valentina Rubio came away with a caused turnover and a ground ball after Adrian won the next draw, and Dotson put away a goal for a 6-3 lead 36 seconds later. The Bulldogs, however, put two goals on the scoreboard over the final 3:08 of the quarter to make it a 6-5 game at the half.

 

The Belles used a strong transition to strike first in the third quarter. Lindsey Herdsman found Reese Bauer with a quick outlet, and Bauer added another long outlet to Alyssa Grant near the opposite restraining line. Grant then dodged her defender and scored with 11:11 on the clock in the third quarter for a 7-5 lead. The Bulldogs again edged within a goal at 7-6 with 9:03 still to go in the period. Emma Zmudzinski made a pair of key saves over the final five minutes of the quarter to keep the Belles ahead going into the fourth period. 

 

Molly Mullett came away with the opening draw control of the quarter and sent home a free position goal less than a minute into the stanza for an 8-6 Saint Mary's lead. Lindsey Herdsman caused a turnover and picked up the ground ball to gain possession for the Belles, and Mullett put away another goal a minute later for a 9-6 lead. Saint Mary's continued to build momentum and a lead after Julia Gorski caused a turnover and collected the ground ball with under 11 minutes to play. Erin Dotson converted a free position chance less than 30 seconds later to gain a 10-6 advantage for the Belles. Adrian counted with two goals in the span of 1:37 to cut the lead to two at 10-8 with 6:32 remaining. Zmudzinski made a save on the next shot on goal she faced, and Alyssa Grant put away her fifth goal of the game with Mullett garnering an assist with 5:02 to go. Christiana Singler stuck with the play after she had a shot saved, threaded a pass in the critical scoring area to Erin Dotson, and Dotson all but secured the win with a goal from close range for the 12-8 lead. Singler capitalized on a chance of her own late with a free position goal with 1:14 to go, and the Belles closed out the 13-8 win on the road.

 

The win gives the lacrosse team their tenth victory of the 2023 season, marking the sixth consecutive (non-COVID-19 season) year with at least ten wins.

 

Alyssa Grant scored a season-high five goals and added an assist for a season-best six points. Erin Dotson chipped in four goals, seven ground balls, and two draw controls. Molly Mullett put up three goals, an assist, 10 draw controls, and nine ground balls. Christiana Singler tallied a goal, an assist, and a draw control. Valentina Rubio posted three assists, eight ground balls, and two draw controls. Lindsey Herdsman picked up five ground balls to surpass 100 career ground balls and shared team-high honors with three caused turnovers. Elizabeth Bourassa added three ground balls and three caused turnovers on the defensive end. Julia Gorski had three ground balls while Reese Bauer and Kate King each had two ground balls. Paige Lyons added a career-high six ground balls. Emma Zmudzinski made six saves in goal with three ground balls.

 

The Belles (10-5, 4-1 MIAA) return home on Tuesday to host Trine at 6:00 p.m. The three members of the Class of 2023 will be recognized for Senior Day prior to the start of the game.