NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team scored the first ten goals of the game and never looked back in an 18-4 win over visiting Edgewood on Saturday.

 

The Belles struck quickly with a goal by Valetina Rubio in the opening minute. Erin Dotson added a goal 40 seconds later, and a goal by Molly Mullett 3:47 into play led to a timeout by the Eagles. The Saint Mary's defense was dialed in throughout the game as the Belles set the tone with a strong re-defend throughout the contest. One such instance of that defensive pressure led to a second goal by Dotson with 6:39 on the clock for a 4-0 advantage. Valentina Rubio won the next draw and scored off of a pass from Molly Mullet to extend the lead to five. Rubio kept an offensive chance alive late in the quarter with a ground ball just outside the goal circle and put away the point-blank shot for a 6-0 lead through the first 15 minutes of play. The defense, meanwhile, did not surrender a shot to the Eagles through the opening quarter.

 

A player-up goal by Christiana Singler and a goal by Reese Bauer in the opening two minutes of the second stanza pushed the lead to eight. Back-to-back goals midway through the quarter by Bauer and Mullett gave the Belles a 10-0 lead with eight minutes to go. Emma Zmudzinski made a save before a free position shot for the Eagles found the back of the net. Saint Mary's, however, came right back on the offensive end with a pair of quick goals by Rubio and Mullett to again extend the lead to double-digits and invoke the running clock. Edgewood closed out the half with a goal with two minutes to go as the Belles carried a 12-2 lead into the break.

During the halftime break, the lacrosse program honored two of its most decorated alumnae as 2021 graduates Erin Doyle and Emily Kraker had their jerseys retired. 

 

Much like the first quarter, the third period saw the Saint Mary's defense hold Edgewood without a shot. Christina Singler opened the stanza with an early goal in the opening two minutes. Erin Dotson and Molly Mullett added a pair of goals late in the quarter to give the Belles a 15-2 advantage going into the final frame. Dotson struck with a goal in the opening five minutes of the fourth before Edgewood got back on the scoreboard with a goal a minute later. Saint Mary's countered with a goal as Molly Mullett threaded a clean pass into the critical scoring area for Dotson as the senior put away her fifth goal of the contest. Christiana Singler capitalized on a free position opportunity with under three minutes to play for an 18-3 lead. The Eagles got a free position goal of their own in the waning moments of the contest to push the final score to 18-4.

 

Erin Dotson had a game-high five goals to go along with an assist, four ground balls, and four caused turnovers. Valentina Rubio put up four goals and two assists with five caused turnovers, five draw controls, and five ground balls. Molly Mullett chipped in four goals, two assists, six draw controls, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Christiana Singler registered a hat trick with three goals to go along with six ground balls and two caused turnovers with a draw control. Reese Bauer put up two goals and had three ground balls and a caused turnover. Lindsey Herdsman caused two turnovers as the Belles posted 19 caused turnovers. Emma Zmudzinski collected the goalkeeping win with a save in the first half while Mila Swiacki took over between the pipes for the second half.

 

The Belles (4-3) are scheduled to host Bethel on Monday afternoon starting at 4:00 p.m.