NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team got a goal from Molly Mullett with 16 seconds remaining to capture an 11-10 win over Albion on Tuesday evening.

Valentina Rubio put the Belles on the scoreboard first with a goal 2:02 into play, but the Brits tied up the game less than two minutes later before gaining a 2-1 lead with 9:27 on the clock. Emma Zmudzinski made a save on a shot on goal, and the Belles scored a player-down goal a minute later to tie the game at 2-2. Albion countered with a pair of goals in quick succession to gain a 4-2 lead with 4:32 on the clock. Saint Mary's, however, shifted the momentum back in their favor with two goals by Erin Dotson to tie the game yet again with 2:04 on the clock as the game stood knotted at 4-4 after the first quarter.

 

Albion netted a goal a minute into the second stanza before the two sides continued to battle in a tight game over the next five minutes of play. That span was then broken up by a Molly Mullett goal with 9:03 on the clock to push the score to 5-5. The Brits regained the lead again with a free position goal. Molly Mullett and Erin Dotson were strong on the draw control, and the pair each won a draw then scored quickly after to put the Belles up 7-6 with seven minutes on the clock. Julia Gorski scored on transition for the Belles with 4:38 on the clock for an 8-6 lead. Albion took advantage of a free position chance a minute later to cut the Saint Mary's lead to a goal. The Belles then came up with a key blocked shot late in the quarter to hold an 8-7 lead at the halftime break.

 

Christiana Singler put away a feed from Rubio three minutes into the third, and Emma Zmudzinski again came up with a strong save as Saint Mary's locked down defensively. A pair of chances for the Belles were saved, but the home side continued the defensive pressure in the critical scoring area to prevent the Brits from getting many good looks at scoring chances. Molly Mullett then put the home team up 10-7 with 3:31 in the quarter, and Zmudzinski added another save to keep the Belles up three going into the fourth quarter.

 

Zmudzinski opened the fourth period with a save on a free position chance, and Albion did not get another shot on goal for over four minutes until scoring with 9:21 on the clock. The Brits built late momentum with a goal with 5:59 on the clock. Zmudzinski again made a save with just over four minutes to play in the period. Albion used a caused turnover at one end to get offense the other way and tie the game at 10-10 with 1:37 on the clock. Valentina Rubio came away with the ensuing draw control, and after a timeout, Molly Mullett buried a chance from the right side of the critical scoring area to give the Belles the 11-10 lead with 16 seconds on the clock. Mullett then won the next draw control, and the Belles ran out the clock for the one-goal victory. 

 

Erin Dotson and Molly Mullett each had four goals to lead the Belles. Dotson chipped in three ground balls, six draw controls, and four caused turnovers. Mullett came away with a game-high nine draw controls - including the final draw control to clinch the win - to go along with three ground balls and three caused turnovers. Christiana Singler had a goal with two assists. Valentina Rubio posted a goal, an assist, three ground balls, and a turnover. Julia Gorski tallied a goal and a ground ball. Emma Zmudzinski made seven saves in goal.

 

The Belles (7-5, 1-1 MIAA) are on the road on Saturday when they take on Calvin at 7:00 p.m.