Belles Fall to Big Red

Box Score

• Erin Doyle led the Belles with four goals and an assist.
• Clare Theisen tallied two goals, three caused turnovers, four draw controls, and seven ground balls.
• Kendra Osinski made 11 saves in goal.

KENOSHA, Wis. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team (4-3) came up short in a 16-8 final at Carthage on Sunday afternoon.

The host Big Red put pressure on the Belles early and notched a goal in the opening minute, but Kendra Osinski came up with back-to-back saves a minute later to keep the Belles energized. Carthage took advantage of a charge call on a Saint Mary's clear attempt a short while later to make it 2-0, but the Belles quickly responded to the second goal as Erin Doyle fired home a free position shot to make it 2-1 through 4:18 of play. Carthage responded with a quick goal of their own to regain the two-goal advantage.

Kate Kelly had a shot on goal saved, but Kendra Osinski returned the favor two minutes later with a save of her own to keep the score at 3-1. As the clock moved just under 20 minutes, Molly Stout fed a pass to a cutting Clare Theisen, and the senior sent home her first shot on goal to make it a 3-2 game. Erin Doyle had a shot rattle off the crossbar on the next Saint Mary's possession, and the Big Red made the most of their possession with a goal at 18:03. Another Carthage goal made it a 5-2 score with 16:25 as the Belles called a timeout.

The Saint Mary's pressure kicked up a notch in their offensive end as the Belles forced the Big Red into three consecutive failed clear attempts. After the third failed clear, Raigan Althouse gained control of the ground ball before Erin Doyle drew a free position shot. Doyle capitalized on the chance and cut the deficit to two goals at 5-3 with 14:27 still to play in the opening period.

The Big Red put two consecutive goals on the scoreboard to make it 7-3, but the Belles countered with a goal a minute later as Clare Theisen shook a defender and dodged the goalie for an open-net goal with 10:24 on the clock. With both sides battling back and forth, Carthage made it an 8-4 score with 7:43 remaining in the half. The Belles locked down on defense as Caleigh Gainey forced a turnover with five minutes to play. Erin Doyle then drew another free position shot and converted the chance to make it 8-5. That defense carried over into the final three minutes of play as Kendra Osinski came up with two more saves to keep the score at that same mark at halftime.

Carthage opened the second half with three consecutive goals to push their lead to 11-5, but the Belles responded with an extended offensive possession a short while later. Clare Theisen caused a turnover, and Kate Kelly picked up the ground ball to give Saint Mary's possession. Erin Doyle had a shot go high, and Kate Kelly had a shot saved to reset the 90-second possession clock. Rachael Leonard won the ensuing ground ball, and Molly Stout threaded a pass from below the goal-line extended to a cutting Kate Kelly for a close-range shot and goal to make it 11-6.

The Big Red netted a quick goal in response for a 12-6 lead with 23:26 on the clock. Saint Mary's came back with back-to-back goals of their own. High pressure for the Belles led to Carthage turning the ball over deep in the Saint Mary's offensive end. Kate Kelly gained the ground ball and fed a pass to Erin Doyle, who sent home her fourth goal of the game to make it 12-7. Less than a minute later, Doyle tried to spin past a defender at the top of the critical scoring area and drew a double defensively in the process. Molly Stout saw the open space in the eight-meter area, and Doyle found Stout with a pass as the junior struck with the goal just outside of the circle to make it 12-8 with 17:35 to play. The Belles, however, were unable to generate any more scoring while the Big Red put four additional goals on the scoreboard for the 16-8 final.

Erin Doyle led the Belles with four goals and an assist. Clare Theisen tallied two goals, three caused turnovers, four draw controls, and seven ground balls. Molly Stout had a goal and two assists. Kate Kelly notched a goal, an assist, and six ground balls. Zoe Gatzimos recorded an assist. Kendra Osinski made 11 saves in goal for the Belles.

The Belles (4-3) return home to host Concordia University Chicago on Thursday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m.