TIFFIN, Ohio - The Saint Mary's soccer team battled but came up just short in a 2-1 final at Heidelberg on Saturday afternoon.

 

The Student Princes struck in the eighth minute of play. A corner kick for Heidelberg resulted in a header shot in the box that narrowly evaded a diving save attempt by Kara Stacey for the 1-0 advantage. The Belles nearly got right on the scoreboard themselves on their next possession. Sydney Skarbek fired a shot from the left flank from about 30 yards out with strong pace, but the effort was collected by the Heidelberg goalkeeper.

 

Saint Mary's did net the equalizer at the very start of the 18th minute of play. Becca Stella left a pass off along the right side of the field for Lindsey Adent. Adent then found Rose Stackhouse with a pass less than ten yards ahead in a pocket of space. The senior collected the pass, turned, and fired a shot from 25 yards out that ricocheted down off the crossbar and across the line for a goal to knot the score at 1-1.

 

The Belles maintained a stretch of extended pressure and possession from the 25th minute through the 32nd minute of action. Stackhouse and Mary Kaczynski each tallied a shot, and Maya Cole had a shot as Saint Mary's battled to try to take a lead. The best chance over the remainder of the opening period came from Jillian Bowen. With less than ten minutes remaining before the halftime break, Stackhouse won a 50-50 ball off of a Heidelberg goal kick before immediately playing a pass ahead for Kaczynski. Kaczynski then fed a pass through the defense from the right side of the 18-yard box ahead for Bowen. Bowen's strike inside the box went off the crossbar and out of play for a goal kick.

 

Defensively, the Belles locked down and handled an extended stretch of pressure from Heidelberg to open the second period. Bowen put a shot on goal for the Belles in the 68th minute but had the chance saved. The Student Prices were able to break through three minutes later as a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box bent beyond the diving effort of Kara Stacey and snuck inside the far post for the 2-1 lead for Heidelberg.

 

Saint Mary's pushed for a late equalizer. A pair of plays which were building to potential scoring chances were broken up with just-too-heavy passes and an offensive handball whistled against the Belles. Mary Kaczynski struck a shot from outside the box in the 83rd minute which carried wide. With less than two minutes remaining on the clock, Bowen nearly put the equalizer in the back of the net. Lindsey Herdsman played a pass along the left side of the field for Becca Stella. Stella then found Rose Stackhouse at the penalty spot, and Stackhouse had her shot blocked just off of her foot. The ensuing loose ball in the box found its way to Bowen, but the Student Princes' keeper found herself in the right spot for the point-blank save to preserve the lead late in the contest. Bowen put another shot on goal in the final minute of play only to see the Heidelberg keeper collect her seventh and final save of the game.

 

Saint Mary's held a 15-9 overall advantage in shots over Heidelberg. The Belles put eight of those shots on goal while the Student Princes tallied four shots on goal.

 

Rose Stackhouse recorded her 30th career goal for the Belles as the senior moved into fourth place all-time in career goals scored and third place all-time in career points (75). Lindsey Adent collected her team-leading sixth assist of the year, and Becca Stella posted her first point of the 2021 season with an assist. Kara Stacey made a pair of saves in goal for the Belles.

 

Saint Mary's (7-2) now moves to the conference portion of their schedule as the Belles begin MIAA play on Tuesday night at Trine with a 7:15 p.m. contest against the Thunder.