Posted: Oct 21, 2023
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Bolstered by a brace by Izzi Linus, the Saint Mary's soccer team scored three unanswered goals to capture a key 3-1 conference win over Alma on Senior Day.
The Belles had early pressure against the Scots. Mary Kaczynski fed a pass to Margaret Slove as the freshman sent a low shot wide left of goal in the third minute. A short while later, a cutback shot by Slove gave her space to fire a shot from the top of the box that tailed wide right of the frame. A combination play by Slove to Kaczynski and on for Izzi Linus with 30 minutes on the clock carried too heavy and beyond Linus for the Alma goalkeeper. Another opportunity on a ball over the top by Kaczynski carried too far and beyond any teammates.
Grace Barresi flicked a header into space of Izzi Linus in the midfield, and Linus slotted a pass wide for Slove. Slove's strike was wide in the 19th minute as Saint Mary's continued to try to string passes together to build chances. Defensively, the Belles were up to the task in the first half. Caroline Miklavcic intercepted a cross near the post in the 23rd minute of play. Moments later, Miklavcic punched away a corner kick chance to start a counter attack. Izzi Linus gained possession near the center line and was already past her defender. Linus raced ahead and tried to beat the pursuing Alma goalkeeper but struck the ball just off the mark wide and right in the 25th minute. Grace Brown, Grace Barresi, and Lindsey Adent each had a shot on goal in the opening period as the game stood deadlocked at 0-0 at halftime.
The Belles opened the second half with a lot of sustained pressure over the opening 10-plus minutes of play. Izzi Linus, Margaret Slove, and Grace Barresi all put shots on goal in the opening five-plus minutes, and the Belle searned a pair of corner kicks early. Grace Brown had a good slot pass into space toward Linus picked up by the keeper as the Belles worked to get on the scoreboard. The Scots, however, were the first ones to break through with a goal in the 60th minute of play.
That energy was short-lived as the Belles broke through. Izzy Sherman played a pass ahead the left side of the field to Grace Brown. Unmarked, Brown took a couple of touches before slicing a pass through the defense and into space. Izzi Linus raced onto the pass and put away a goal to pull the Belles even at 1-1 in the 64th minute. Barresi had a shot on goal ten minutes later as Saint Mary's looked to claim the win. Margaret Slove then used a move at the edge of the box with 15 minutes to go to find space to bend a shot toward the upper 90, but the ball was just barely too high and wide as the game remained tied.
In the 79th minute, Sherman worked past an Alma player just inside the center line and lofted a pass in for Linus. Linus used one touch to bury the chance and put the Belles up 2-1. The defense, meanwhile, limited Alma's chances to long-range shots that went off the mark. Using the home field energy, Kaitlyn Day launched a chance on goal in the 86th minute. The senior's strike went off the goalkeeper's hands and in to put Saint Mary's up 3-1 late and all but seal the win. Caroline Miklavcic collected a late save, and the Belles played out the clock for the Senior Day victory.
Izzi Linus registered her first multi-goal performance of her collegiate career with two goals in the win. Kaitlyn Day tallied her third goal of her career to ice the win. Izzy Sherman tallied two assists for her first two career points in a Belles uniform. Grace Brown also registered an assist. Margaret Slove added five shots, and Grace Barresi had three shots in the game. Caroline Miklavcic posted three saves en route to the goalkeeping win.
The Belles (8-7-1, 2-4-1 MIAA) are at home for their regular season finale on Tuesday, October 24 when they host Hope at 4:00 p.m.