Belles Sting Hornets

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Saint Mary's College soccer team picked up a 1-0 win over Kalamazoo for their record-setting 10th shutout of the 2012 season. The team, however, will not be proceeding to the tournament as expected. Due to a violation of the College's Department of Athletics policy, the soccer team will vacate its position in the MIAA Tournament. The Department of Athletics holds student-athletes to a high level of expectation and responsibility and does not tolerate offenses of department rules.

Wednesday night's game was an exciting one. Mollie Valencia tallied the only goal of the game early. The junior took a free kick from outside of the 18-yard box and hooked it over the wall and over the Kalamazoo goalkeeper for the lone tally of the game in the fourth minute of play.

Kalamazoo had their best chance at equalizing in the second half of play. With the wind at their backs, the Hornets sent an arcing shot on frame. Chanler Rosenbaum came up with the initial save, but the ball was uncontrolled and was spinning toward the goal line. Abby Garcia then cleared the ball away from just in front of the goal line to help preserve the shutout.

The Saint Mary's defense continued to stand strong in their record-setting shut out as they held the visiting Hornets to just three shots on goal in 14 attempts.

Valencia had her third game-winning goal on the season in the Belles' 10th MIAA win of the year, which tied the 2005 team for most conference wins in a season.

Chanler Rosenbaum earned her 11th win in goal and eighth shutout of the season while registering three saves on the day.

For the defense and Rosenbaum, the 12 goals allowed is the fewest allowed by a Belles' squad in the 16-game format of league play. The 2006 team allowed only seven goals in an eight-game regular season format in conference play.

The Belles end their season 13-5-2, which marks the most wins in a season by a Saint Mary's soccer team in the 28-year history of the program.