LAKE FOREST, Ill. - A second-half onslaught by the Saint Mary's soccer team distanced the Belles and put the game away in a 4-0 victory at Lake Forest on Friday.

 

The Belles had the better chances early and often against the Foresters. Margaret Slove registered a shot in the opening minute of play to help set the tone. Slove then had a shot saved in the 21st minute as Saint Mary's put a lot of pressure on the Lake Forest back line. Less than a minute later, Holly Skrip played a ball over the top, and Kaitlyn Day used a touch to pull even further away from the defender she had beaten on the pass before burying her first goal of the season.

 

Saint Mary's picked right up in the second half of action. Izzi Linus saw an early effort get saved in the 48th minute. Less than four minutes later, Margaret Slove broke through and used a cut-back shot in the box to beat the Lake Forest goalkeeper for a goal in the 51st minute. Grace Barresi stuck with a possession in the Belles' attacking third in the 59th minute, and the junior rocketed a shot from outside the box that was too powerful to be stopped as it skidded off the goalkeeper's hands and in for the 3-0 lead. Barresi nearly found the back of the net again in the 71st minute only to have the attempt saved. The Belles kept the pedal to the metal late. After Saint Mary's earned a corner kick, Slove refused to give up on the play and cleaned up a loose ball in the box before tapping it past the goalkeeper for her second goal of the game and a 4-0 lead with under ten minutes to play. The defense shut down the Foresters late as Lake Forest was held without a shot over the remainder of the game in the 4-0 decision.

 

Kaitlyn Day's first-half goal stood up as the game-winner for the Belles. Margaret Slove registered a brace by tallying the first two goals of her collegiate career and added an assist. Grace Barresi added her first goal of the 2023 season in the victory. Holly Skrip and Marina C. Vasconcelos each posted an assist for the Belles. Caroline Miklavcic had a save in the complete-game shutout victory in goal.

 

The Belles (2-3) are back at home for a three-match stretch starting with a contest on Wednesday, September 20 against Huntington starting at 7:00 p.m.