NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team fought from start to finish in a 1-0 setback against No. 15 ranked Calvin on Wednesday evening.

 

Caroline Miklavcic had a big one-on-one save in the 26th minute of action as the Belles' goalkeeper timed her pursuit of the ball perfectly to come up with the stop. Five minutes later, Saint Mary's had one of their best chances of the first period of play. Margaret Slove gained possession at the middle of the field and carried the ball 30 yards into the attacking end. The freshman got behind a centering pass from the left flank, but the effort was played away by the Calvin goalkeeper before the Belles could get on the other end. 

 

The Knights struck quickly in the second period with a goal in the 46th minute of play. Miklavcic continued to be up to the task of keeping Saint Mary's in the mix as the sophomore smothered a save in the 50th minute. Two minutes later, Mary Kaczynski played a ball over the top and into space toward Margaret Slove. The freshman was in a footrace with both her defender and the goalkeeper for possession as the Calvin defense closed in on the ball first to break up the play. A few minutes later, it was Izzy Sherman who was on the service end of a ball toward Slove, but the result was much of the same as Slove could not quite meet up with the pass in time. 

 

The Belles earned a corner kick in the 62nd minute and nearly found the equalizer as Izzi Linus had a shot from inside the six-yard box tail just wide left of the goal. Saint Mary's had a strong stretch of possession over the 65th and 66nd minutes as the Belles worked to try to get the equalizer. The 73rd minute saw Margaret Slove serve a strong cross into the box as the effort was once again cleared away. Marina C. Vasconcelos fired a shot from the top of the box in the 82nd minute, but the freshman's offering carried high and over the crossbar as the game ended by the final 1-0 margin.

 

Izzi Linus and Marina C. Vasconcelos each had a shot for the Belles in the contest. Caroline Miklavcic registered seven saves in goal.

 

The Belles (6-5, 0-2 MIAA) travel to Adrian on Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. conference match against the Bulldogs.