NOTRE DAME, Ind.- Saint Mary's College Lacrosse earned a home victory on Saturday afternoon defeating the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 16-6. The Belles improve to 3-5 on the year while the Pointers fall to 1-7.
Saint Mary's would take the lead early in the first quarter with sophomore Lana Skibins (Granger, IN) gaining momentum with two goals. Senior Valentina Rubio (Wayland, MI) would add one at the 8:39 mark to start her day off hot. The Pointers would go to score one on a free possession shot. Rubio would add an assist while sophomore Kathryn Kalinowski (Atlanta, GA) would add two.
Rubio dominated throughout the second quarter adding three goals. Scoring her first just 45 seconds into the quarter and adding a free position goal, securing her hattrick in the quarter. Stevens Point would try to start a comeback, as Saint Mary's would lead heading into halftime, 6-3.
Throughout the third, five different Belles would snag a goal to head to the final 15 leading, 12-6. Sophomore Cate Krema (Western Springs, IL) would find the back of the net less than two minutes into the half. Sophomore Rachel Speckhard (Munster, IN) would add a goal of her own before Rubio added to her tally before freshman Annabelle Spruill (Brookhaven, GA) and senior Paige Lyons (Hinsdale, IL) would each add one. Rubio would then add her sixth goal with less than a minute in the quarter, securing her double hat trick.
The Belles defense would dominate in the second half, holding the Pointers scoreless for the final 23 minutes of the game. Krema and Speckhard would add another goal each in the fourth quarter before Kalinowski and junior Mary Grace Heekin (Fayetteville, GA) would each add one to secure the 10 point win. Skibins would add two assists in the second half.
Rubio went on to finish the game with a career-high six goals. Skibins, Krema, and Speckhard would each add two goals while Lyons, Heekin, Spruill, and Kalinowski would each add one. Kalinowski and Skibins would each add two assists while Rubio would add one. Rubio would also lead the game with 14 shots and 11 shots on goal.
Senior Emma Zmudzinski (Granger, IN) goes on to earn her third win of the season, making 10 saves on 16 shots faced. Zmudzinski and the Belles defense would combine to go 19 for 19 on clears.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES:
Saint Mary's returns home to take on conference opponent Albion College on Tuesday, April 1st at 6PM. The Belles will hit the road to face Alma College on April 5th and Adrian College on April 8 and will take on seven conference opponents in a row to finish out their season.