Posted: Mar 15, 2023
REDLANDS, Calif. - Trailing 6-3 after one quarter, the Saint Mary's lacrosse team fought back and closed out a tight 15-14 win at Redlands on Wednesday night.
The host Bulldogs struck first with a goal 2:30 into play, but the Belles responded just over a minute later with a goal by Valentina Rubio. Back-to-back goals gave Redlands a 3-1 edge before Molly Mullett won a draw control and proceeded to find the back of the net with 8:10 still to play in the first period. Two more quick goals by the home side made it a 5-2 game, but the Belles were undeterred in their efforts as a failed clear attempt by Redlands initiated by a Lindsey Herdsman caused turnover yielded a Valentina Rubio. The Bulldogs, however, closed out the period with a free-position goal to hold a 6-3 lead through 15 minutes of play.
Saint Mary's continued to battle on both ends of the field while looking to start the comeback. Christiana Singler gave the Belles a big boost after cutting past several defenders along the left side of the critical scoring area before burying a shot four minutes into the second quarter. The two sides competed hard back-and-forth throughout the period, but it would be the Bulldogs who found the next goal to hold a 7-4 lead. Molly Mullett came away with the next draw control and quickly connected with Erin Dotson inside the eight-meter area as Dotson registered her first goal of the game. The score remained unchanged until the waning moments of the half. Dotson saw a free position shot saved, but strong defensive pressure forced the Bulldogs into a turnover deep in the Saint Mary's offensive end. Valentina Rubio quickly found Dotson, and the senior co-captain put away a backhanded shot from six meters away with only 10 seconds remaining in the period to both make it a one-goal game and give the Belles a huge momentum boost.
Dotson made quick work of tying up the game at 7-7 with a goal in the opening minute of the third quarter, and a won draw control by Valentina Rubio led to another quick goal, this time by Reese Bauer, as the Belles took their first lead of the game. An extended possession by the Bulldogs a minute later led to Redlands knotting the score at 8-8 with 12:10 still on the clock. Five minutes of action later, Erin Dotson drew a free position shot midway through the quarter shortly after a timeout. Positioned at the middle hash, the senior ripped a low shot into the bottom corner of the netting to put the Belles back ahead at 9-8. Saint Mary's won the ensuing draw and capitalized on an extended offensive chance as Doston buried her 100th career goal for a 10-8 advantage. A good clear by Kate King led to a pass to Christiana Singler on the right side of the critical scoring area, and Singler sliced through the defense before burying a goal to make it an 11-8 Saint Mary's lead as the Bulldogs called a timeout. The Belles' re-defend came through yet again as Molly Mullett picked up a bobbled pass at the top of the Saint Mary's critical scoring area and quickly scored for a 12-8 advantage. The Bulldogs broke up the Belles' scoring run with a goal, but Mila Swiacki came up with a big save on a free position shot late in the quarter to keep the momentum with Saint Mary's.
A strong effort by the defense early in the fourth quarter saw the Belles use a transition chance to go up 13-9. After the successful clear, Lindsey Herdsman threaded a pass into the critical scoring area to Reese Bauer, who turned and buried a goal less than three minutes into play. Redlands countered with back-to-back free position goals to make it a 13-11 game. The defense for the Belles stood tall once again and forced the Bulldogs into a possession clock violation with under seven minutes to go in the quarter. Redlands got the ball back and made the most of the chance by scoring a goal with five minutes left on the clock, and a quick goal by the Bulldogs knotted the game at 13-13 a few moments later. Valetina Rubio won the next draw control - a key win for the Belles - and Alyssa Grant threaded a pass to Erin Dotson in the critical scoring area as Dotson regained the lead for Saint Mary's with under four minutes to go. A big offside call against the Bulldogs gave the ball back to the Belles with 2:46 on the clock. After a Saint Mary's timeout, the Belles successfully cleared the ball into their offensive end. Alyssa Grant again found a cutting Erin Dotson, and Dotson found the back of the net with just over two minutes to play to put the Belles up 15-13. Redlands won the next draw and made it a one-goal game with 1:35 to go. Molly Mullett came away with a hard-earned and crucial draw control, which all but allowed the Belles to run out the clock. A double-team pressure led nearly to a turnover along the sideline, but a big pickup by Christiana Singler preserved the possession deep in the offensive end as Saint Mary's closed out the 14-13 win.
Erin Dotson had a career night on the field. The senior collected both her 100th career goal and her 100th career draw control. Dotson posted a single-game career-high seven goals to pace the offensive efforts and added five ground balls, two draw controls, and a caused turnover. Molly Mullett moved into third place all-time in program history for career draw controls with a game-high 12 as she added two goals, two assists, and four ground balls. Valentina Rubio had five draw controls, five ground balls, two goals, an assist, and a caused turnover. Christiana Singler added two goals with three ground balls, and Reese Bauer chipped in two goals with a ground ball. Alyssa Grant tallied two assists and two caused turnovers. Lindsey Herdsman picked up four ground balls and came away with two caused turnovers. Emma Zmudzinski and Mila Swiacki split time in goal as Swiacki came in after the first quarter and earned the win between the pipes.
Saint Mary's continued to battle on both ends of the field while looking to start the comeback. Christiana Singler gave the Belles a big boost after cutting past several defenders along the left side of the critical scoring area before burying a shot four minutes into the second quarter. The two sides competed hard back-and-forth throughout the period, but it would be the Bulldogs who found the next goal to hold a 7-4 lead. Molly Mullett came away with the next draw control and quickly connected with Erin Dotson inside the eight-meter area as Dotson registered her first goal of the game. The score remained unchanged until the waning moments of the half. Dotson saw a free position shot saved, but strong defensive pressure forced the Bulldogs into a turnover deep in the Saint Mary's offensive end. Valentina Rubio quickly found Dotson, and the senior co-captain put away a backhanded shot from six meters away with only 10 seconds remaining in the period to both make it a one-goal game and give the Belles a huge momentum boost.
Dotson made quick work of tying up the game at 7-7 with a goal in the opening minute of the third quarter, and a won draw control by Valentina Rubio led to another quick goal, this time by Reese Bauer, as the Belles took their first lead of the game. An extended possession by the Bulldogs a minute later led to Redlands knotting the score at 8-8 with 12:10 still on the clock. Five minutes of action later, Erin Dotson drew a free position shot midway through the quarter shortly after a timeout. Positioned at the middle hash, the senior ripped a low shot into the bottom corner of the netting to put the Belles back ahead at 9-8. Saint Mary's won the ensuing draw and capitalized on an extended offensive chance as Doston buried her 100th career goal for a 10-8 advantage. A good clear by Kate King led to a pass to Christiana Singler on the right side of the critical scoring area, and Singler sliced through the defense before burying a goal to make it an 11-8 Saint Mary's lead as the Bulldogs called a timeout. The Belles' re-defend came through yet again as Molly Mullett picked up a bobbled pass at the top of the Saint Mary's critical scoring area and quickly scored for a 12-8 advantage. The Bulldogs broke up the Belles' scoring run with a goal, but Mila Swiacki came up with a big save on a free position shot late in the quarter to keep the momentum with Saint Mary's.
A strong effort by the defense early in the fourth quarter saw the Belles use a transition chance to go up 13-9. After the successful clear, Lindsey Herdsman threaded a pass into the critical scoring area to Reese Bauer, who turned and buried a goal less than three minutes into play. Redlands countered with back-to-back free position goals to make it a 13-11 game. The defense for the Belles stood tall once again and forced the Bulldogs into a possession clock violation with under seven minutes to go in the quarter. Redlands got the ball back and made the most of the chance by scoring a goal with five minutes left on the clock, and a quick goal by the Bulldogs knotted the game at 13-13 a few moments later. Valetina Rubio won the next draw control - a key win for the Belles - and Alyssa Grant threaded a pass to Erin Dotson in the critical scoring area as Dotson regained the lead for Saint Mary's with under four minutes to go. A big offside call against the Bulldogs gave the ball back to the Belles with 2:46 on the clock. After a Saint Mary's timeout, the Belles successfully cleared the ball into their offensive end. Alyssa Grant again found a cutting Erin Dotson, and Dotson found the back of the net with just over two minutes to play to put the Belles up 15-13. Redlands won the next draw and made it a one-goal game with 1:35 to go. Molly Mullett came away with a hard-earned and crucial draw control, which all but allowed the Belles to run out the clock. A double-team pressure led nearly to a turnover along the sideline, but a big pickup by Christiana Singler preserved the possession deep in the offensive end as Saint Mary's closed out the 14-13 win.
Erin Dotson had a career night on the field. The senior collected both her 100th career goal and her 100th career draw control. Dotson posted a single-game career-high seven goals to pace the offensive efforts and added five ground balls, two draw controls, and a caused turnover. Molly Mullett moved into third place all-time in program history for career draw controls with a game-high 12 as she added two goals, two assists, and four ground balls. Valentina Rubio had five draw controls, five ground balls, two goals, an assist, and a caused turnover. Christiana Singler added two goals with three ground balls, and Reese Bauer chipped in two goals with a ground ball. Alyssa Grant tallied two assists and two caused turnovers. Lindsey Herdsman picked up four ground balls and came away with two caused turnovers. Emma Zmudzinski and Mila Swiacki split time in goal as Swiacki came in after the first quarter and earned the win between the pipes.
The Belles (3-2) are set for their home opener on Wednesday, March 22 when they host DePauw at 7:00 p.m.