Belles Power Past Cougars

Box Score

• Molly Stout had a career-high five goals to go along with three assists for a career-best eight points.
• Kate Kelly added four goals, three assists, three caused turnovers, and six ground balls.
• Rachael Leonard reached 100 career ground balls with four in the contest while causing three turnovers.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team broke open a tied game with 16 consecutive goals en route to a 20-4 win over visiting Concordia University Chicago on Thursday evening.

Molly Stout put the Belles ahead with a free position goal 2:44 into play, but the Cougars tallied an unassisted goal almost three minutes later to knot the score early. Erin Doyle had a shot rattle off the post, but Kate Kelly picked up the ground ball before eventually scoring off of a pass from Molly Stout to make it a 2-1 Saint Mary's lead with 24:11 on the clock. Concordia Chicago took advantage of a turnover by the Belles in the midfield and scored their second goal of the contest on a quick passing combination inside the critical scoring area. The Belles, however, quickly regained the lead. Erin Doyle won the ensuing draw control, and Kate Kelly worked past a pair of defenders inside the eight-meter area before sending home her second goal of the contest.

Hanna Makowski had a shot blocked just outside the goal circle less than a minute later, but the defense came up strong at the other end for the Belles. Kendra Osinski made a save and added a ground ball a minute later to keep the Cougars off the scoreboard. Saint Mary's was strong on transition all night, and Stout connected with Kelly yet again on one such transition opportunity as the Belles went ahead 4-2 with 17:59 on the clock.

Kendra Osinski was solid in goal all night, and the sophomore added back-to-back saves on the next Concordia Chicago possession. Saint Mary's then struck again on transition, this time with Stout assisting on a goal by Hanna Makowski. Raigan Althouse added a player-up goal two and a half minutes later as the Belles' offense began to kick into full throttle. The Belles rattled off seven goals over the final 13:13 of the first period to gain a 13-2 lead going into halftime. During that stretch, Erin Doyle, Kate Kelly, Clare Theisen, Molly Stout, and Raigan Althouse each had at least one goal.

The Saint Mary's stretch of consecutive goals carried over into the second half. Zoe Gatzimos ran off of a screen by Molly Stout to get open space in the critical scoring area. Kate Kelly fed Gatzimos a pass, and she rolled to her right before beating the Cougars' goalie for the opening goal of the period. Clare Theisen tallied a pair of free position goals while Molly Stout and Erin Doyle each added another goal as the Saint Mary's lead grew to 18-2 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the contest.

The Cougars broke up the scoring run by the Belles with a free position goal near the ten-minute mark. Gatzimos connected with Molly Stout for a goal less than four minutes later. Concordia Chicago tallied goal on a solid passing combination in the critical scoring area with under five minutes remaining, but Clare Theisen capped off the scoring with a free position goal for the final 20-4 score.

Molly Stout had a career-high five goals to go along with three assists for a career-best eight points. Kate Kelly added four goals, three assists, three caused turnovers, and six ground balls. Clare Theisen notched four goals. Erin Doyle added three goals and seven draw controls. Raigan Althouse had two goals, and Hanna Makowski and Zoe Gatzimos each had a goal and an assist. Rachael Leonard reached 100 career ground balls with four in the contest while causing three turnovers. Kendra Osinski made 10 saves in goal for a 71.4 save percentage in the game.

The Belles (5-3) have a short rest as they open up MIAA competition on Friday when they host Alma at 5:00 p.m.