Belles Prevail on Last-Minute Goal

PONTIAC, Mich. - The Saint Mary's soccer team used another late goal, this time with 20 seconds left in double overtime, to claim a 3-2 win over Rochester (Mich.) College on Sunday afternoon.

Mary Kate Hussey got the Belles on the scoreboard in the first 10 minutes of play with her first goal of her collegiate career. Less than 15 minutes into the second half, Kelly Wilson converted a pass from Kaitlin Teichman into her second goal of the 2012 season to give Saint Mary's a 2-0 advantage on the road.

The host Warriors, however, quickly responded after Wilson's strike with goals in the 62nd and 64th minutes to tie the game at 2-2.

The Belles out-shot Rochester 3-1 in the first overtime period, but it was not until the closing seconds of the second overtime period that Saint Mary's capitalized on a shot. With 20 seconds remaining between a decision and a tie, Jordan Diffenderfer scored her fourth goal of the season and lifted the Belles to their fourth one-goal win of the year.

For the game, 13 of the Belles' 21 shots were on goal while Rochester was credited with 17 total shots and just five shots on goal.

Hannah Bruggeman made two saves while playing the entire first half in goal. Nicole Papiernik was in goal for the second half of play, facing five shots and allowing a pair of goals. Chanler Rosenbaum came in to goal for both overtime periods and picked up the decision while making a save.

The Belles (7-2-1) are off to their best ten-game start to a season since the 2004 campaign, which also began 7-2-1. Saint Mary's will return to conference play for the remainder of the season and will host in-state conference rival Trine on Wednesday, October 3 for a 4:00 p.m. contest.