NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team fell by a 20-3 score against Rhodes in a neutral site game on the campus of Christopher Newport University on Wednesday afternoon.

 

The Lynx got on the scoreboard with quick back-to-back goals less than two minutes into the contest. Emma Zmudzinski made a save on the next shot on goal she faced, but Rhodes was able to capitalize on a pair of player-up chances while doubling their lead. Valentina Rubio came away with the next three draw controls in-a-row, and the third time was the charm for the Belles. With two players for the Lynx serving cards, the Belles struck with a goal by Christiana Singler from the left side of the critical scoring area while Lana Skibins picked up the assist with 8:37 on the clock. Rhodes continued to find a way offensively, however, as the Lynx posted five goals over the final six-plus minutes of the quarter. Saint Mary's continued to battle as the Belles had a late look at goal. Kathryn Kalinowski carried the ball wide and looked to thread a pass to Skibins in the critical scoring area, but the pass was broken up by the Rhodes defense as time expired in the quarter.

 

After an early goal in the second by Rhodes, the Belles worked to try to get things going in the period through their defense. Emma Zmudzinski made another save a minute before the defense blocked a shot by Rhodes. A sniped pass by the Lynx, however, led to a goal with 11 minutes on the clock. After another Lynx goal, Alyssa Grant won the next draw control for the Belles. That possession yielded a shot on goal for Julia Gorski as the senior's effort was saved with seven minutes on the clock. A re-defend by Grant led to a caused turnover and another shot on goal for Gorski 30 seconds later. That attempt was also saved, and the Lynx used a transition opportunity to score before adding another goal with four minutes remaining in the half to make it a 16-1 score. Saint Mary's continued to battle, and an extended defensive possession late in the period saw the Belles stand tall and force the Lynx into a possession clock violation as the game moved into halftime.

 

A long possession in the third quarter saw Reese Bauer's shot get blocked, but the Belles again used a strong re-defended to force Rhodes into a failed clear. Kathryn Kalinowski had the forced turnover and picked up the ground ball before finishing off the possession with a goal at the top of the goal circle off of a pass from Alyssa Grant with just under three minutes on the clock.

 

A good clear by the Belles in the early minutes of the fourth quarter led to a chance for the offense. Rachel Speckhard earned a free position opportunity only to have her well-placed shot saved. The re-defend again forced Rhodes into a failed clear as Reese Bauer collected a ground ball and fired a shot in transition. The shot was saved, but a yellow card on the play prolonged the possession for Saint Mary's. Bauer took one step off the eight-meter line before firing a shot in for a goal with nine minutes to go to make it 19-3. Another strong defensive effort saw the Lynx fail another clear with seven minutes to play. Valentina Rubio had a shot sail high, and Kathryn Kalinowski's shot on goal was smothered in the circle with a low save. A defensive stand the other way ended in asave by Zmudzinski with just under five minutes to play. The Belles nearly added a goal with just under four minutes to go. A strong feed from wide by Kalinowski found Speckhard open in the critical scoring area, but a point-blank save on Speckhard's chance kept the freshman off the scoreboard. Playing to the final whistle, Emma Zmudzinski made a save in the closing seconds of the game as the Belles fell by the final score of 20-3.

 

Christiana Singler, Kathryn Kalinowski, and Reese Bauer each scored a goal while Lana Skibins and Alyssa Grant each collected an assist. Grant led the Belles with four draw controls, and Kalinowski had a pair of ground balls. Six different players registered a caused turnover - Grant, Kalinowski, Valentina Rubio, Sophia Delgado, Cate Krema, and Marina De Castro Vasconcelos. Emma Zmudzinski posted eight saves with three ground balls in the contest.

 

The Belles (1-4) return home to host Wooster on Wednesday, March 20 starting at 5:00 p.m.