NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team played to a 2-2 double-overtime tie against visiting Olivet on Wednesday evening.

 

The Belles had a pair of scoring chances in the first 17 minutes of play against the comets. Maya Cole sent a corner kick into the box in the 11th minute. The ball was initially cleared, but the Belles were able to get a second chance on the play only to see Becca Stella's header attempt roll left of the goal. Less than two minutes later, Cole fired a shot from distance in the middle of the Olivet defensive end. The sophomore's effort, however, tailed wide and right of the post. The Comets, meanwhile, had their best scoring chance in the 18th minute when a low shot from the top of the box rattled off the left post and away from the goal, allowing the Belles to clear the ball out of the zone.

 

Olivet did break through first with a goal in the 40th minute of play, but the Belles came back with a quick response. On the ensuing possession, Saint Mary's pushed the ball up the left flank before a central pass by Sophia Fleming put the ball at Rose Stackhouse's feet. Stackhouse carried the ball away from goal with a pair of touches before using a back-heel flick to play the ball to Maya Cole. Cole shielded one defender before working from her right to her left with her back to the goal. The sophomore edged past a second defender and fired a shot from the top of the box as she was falling. The strike was true as it carried into the upper 90 of the left side of the goal for the equalizer just 32 seconds after the Olivet goal.

 

The Belles came out with a surge of energy in the second period as Kellen Hinchey had a shot saved, Stella had a header blocked inside the six-yard box, and Jillian Bowen saw a potential go-ahead goal pushed aside with a diving save. A quick pass from Bowen to Trombly near the center circle led to a well-weighted pass up the middle by Trombly for Stackhouse in the 72nd minute. Stackhouse timed the run perfectly and took two touches toward the left as she worked past the final Olivet defender. Contact in the box on the play led to a yellow card being shown to the Olivet defender as Stackhouse lined up for a penalty kick. The sophomore converted the chance as the Belles took the 2-1 lead.

 

The Comets mirrored the quick response of Saint Mary's in the first half by equalizing just over a minute later. A pass from the left side was flicked in from 10 yards out to knot the score at 2-2 in the 73rd minute. Both sides had decent chances to score late in regulation. Thallia Robles made a chest-high save in the 88th minute after a shot from just outside the box bent down toward the goal. A minute later, Maya Cole earned a free kick for the Belles 45 yards out from goal in the center of the offensive end for Saint Mary's. Kellen Hinchey dropped the ensuing free kick into the box. Becca Stella made a run toward the right post and nearly was able to put a head on the ball after its first bounce, but the ball carried too far as the Olivet goalkeeper was able to pick it up before the Belles could inflict any damage.

 

Kellen Hinchey sailed a shot wide right in the waning seconds of the first overtime, and Becca Stella and Rose Stackhouse each had a crack at goal in the second overtime period. Stella had her shot travel left of the post while the Olivet goalkeeper came up with the save on Stackhouse's strike to maintain the 2-2 score.

 

Saint Mary's out-shot Olivet by a 13-12 margin and had four corner kicks to the Comets' three.

 

Maya Cole scored her second goal of the season on a turn-around shot from the top of the box in the 41st minute. Rose Stackhouse drew a penalty and converted the chance from the spot in the 72nd minute. It was the ninth goal of the year for Stackhouse. Thallia Robles made two saves in goal.

 

The Belles (5-5-1, 0-1-1 MIAA) are on the road on Saturday when they travel to Alma for a 12:00 p.m. conference match against the Scots.