NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team scored two quick goals after the halftime break and added a late goal en route to a 3-0 win over visiting Manchester on Wednesday evening.

 

The Belles had a handful of strong scoring opportunities over the opening minutes of the contest. Izzi Linus played a long cross into the box from the left side of the field before Rose Stackhouse had a header shot in the box saved in the sixth minute. In the ninth minute, Stackhouse hit a turnaround shot at the top of the box with a lot of pace only to have the effort saved. Sydney Skarbek missed the frame just left in the eleventh minute, and Stackhouse saw a shot glance off the crossbar and out of play for a goal kick in the 13th minute. The senior co-captain put yet another shot on goal in the 16th minute but had the chance saved. Izzi Linus then added a pair of shots on goal in the 23rd and 24th minute as the Belles continued to try to break into the scoring column.

 

The Belles fired three more shots on goal, but Manchester kept Saint Mary's scoreless late in the half. The Spartans nearly found the go-ahead goal in the 40th minute when a loose ball in the box was ultimately put on-goal by a Manchester player, but Lindsey Hersdman found herself in the right place to clear the ball away from a certain goal for the team save.

 

After the halftime break, the Belles wasted little time opening the scoring. Rose Stackhouse regained possession for the Belles near the top of the box, worked her way past a pair of defenders, and buried a chance from inside the 18 for the 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, Sydney Skarbek had a perfectly-placed cross from the left endline find its way to the far post. Katie Harrington met the pass and volleyed her second goal of the season into the netting for a 2-0 lead. Saint Mary's continued to keep much of the possession and applied pressure to the Spartans' midfield and back lines throughout much of the half. The Belles added a third goal late in the contest when a pass by Lindsey Adent found Mary Kaczynski cutting across the top of the 18-yard box along the right side of the field. Kaczynski then fired a banger of a shot into the upper 90 of the left side of the goal for the 3-0 lead in the 78th minute.

 

Saint Mary's had a 22-9 advantage over Manchester in total shots in the game while holding a 14-2 edge in shots on goal.

 

Rose Stackhouse tallied her third game-winner of the year with an unassisted effort in the 46th minute. Katie Harrington and Mary Kaczynski each added a goal for the Belles while Sydney Skarbek and Lindsey Adent each collected an assist. Kara Stacey preserved her fourth shutout victory in goal for the Belles while posting one save.

 

The Belles (7-1) close out their non-conference slate of competition on Saturday when they travel to Heidelberg for a 3:00 p.m. contest.