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Belles Stopped by Pioneers

Christiana Singler possesses the ball in a game.
WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team were on the short end of a 17-4 final at Carroll (Wis.) on Sunday afternoon.

The Pioneers snagged an early 3-0 lead before the Belles broke into the scoring column. The offense kept a possession alive after a free position shot by Julia Gorski went wide. Reese Bauer then found Christiana Singler with a pass, and Singler put away a goal to make it 3-1 with 8:53 on the clock. Gorski had a shot saved midway through the opening quarter, and Lana Skibins had a shot go off the post two minutes later. Kathryn Kalinowski's free position shot went wide of the goal with under five minutes to go in the opening period. Carroll extended their lead to 6-1 with just over two minutes to go, and a late save by Emma Zmudzinski kept the Pioneers at bay down the stretch of the first quarter.

The second quarter went end to end with both teams having chances but being unable to capitalize. Reese Bauer had a shot on goal saved with eight minutes to play in the period while the Saint Mary's defense stifled the Pioneers attack. Emma Zmudzinski collected a save on Carroll's next chance, but the Pioneers scored on a player-up free position shot midway through the quarter. After Carroll made it 8-1, Christiana Singler won the ensuing draw control. A patient possession by the offense led to a free position chance, and Alyssa Grant dodged a defender and put away a goal to make it 8-2 with just over four minutes to go in the half. The Pioneers scored a goal with a minute to play, but the Saint Mary's defense made a strong stop late to make it a 9-2 game at the half.

The Pioneers tallied two goals to begin the third quarter. The Belles countered with a goal less than four minutes into the period. Valentina Rubio used a pass from behind the goal to Christiana Singler, and Singler buried the chance just outside of the goal circle to get Saint Mary's on the scoreboard. Carroll netted the next two goals to go ahead 13-3, but Emma Zmudzinski made a goal-line save and Elizabeth Bourassa made a clean check to force a turnover moments later. Lana Skibins had a shot from the right side of the critical scoring area go high before having a shot on goal saved in the closing seconds of the period.

The Belles continued to battle throughout the fourth quarter. The defense came up with a pair of early stops before Carroll put a goal on the scoreboard three minutes into the period. The Pioneers added two more goals to go ahead 16-3 with four minutes to go. Emma Zmudzinski collected a save, the Belles pushed the ball ahead offensively, and Reese Bauer sent home a free position goal with just over a minute remaining. A late goal by the Pioneers, however, pushed the final margin to 17-4 as the game went final.

Saint Mary's held the advantage in draw controls 13-9 over Carroll in the contest. The Pioneers had 23 ground balls to the Belles' 17.

Christiana Singler had two goals and a career-high eight draw controls. Reese Bauer had a goal and an assist, and Alyssa Grant tallied a goal. Valentina Rubio registered an assist with two draw controls. Kathryn Kalinowski had team-highs of five ground balls and two caused turnovers. Sophia Delgado added four ground balls, and Kate King picked up two ground balls. Emma Zmudzinski posted seven saves between the pipes in the game.

The Belles (0-2) travel to North Central on Wednesday, February 28 for a 5:00 p.m. CST/6:00 p.m. EST contest.