Belles Shatter School Record in Shutout Win Over Regents
Saint Mary's Stories
- Ten different players registered at least a point in the game with eight different Belles tallying at least one goal each.
- Sophie Bubnar posted her first collegiate hat trick while adding an assist.
- Ashley Hernandez and Rose Stackhouse each had a brace for the Belles.
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team scored early and often in a record-breaking 12-0 win over Rockford on Saturday afternoon.
Receiving the ball off of the opening whistle, Kellen Hinchey played a pass ahead for Madison Jurgovan just seconds into play. Jurgovan settled the pass and played a ball wide to the left for Sophie Bubnar to run onto in space. Bubnar carried the ball ahead a few yards before finding the back of the net 14 seconds into play, which is tied for the 15th-fastest goal to start a game in NCAA Division III women's soccer history according to the 2018 NCAA Women's Soccer Record Book.
From there, the flood gates opened for the Saint Mary's offense. Bubnar scored off of another pass from Jurgovan in the third minute, and Jurgovan was on the scoring end of a corner kick cross by Maya Cole for her first collegiate goal in the tenth minute. Lexi Trombly and Sophie Bubnar each scored an unassisted goal in the 13th and 14th minute, respectively. Rose Stackhouse then used a back-heel shot from inside the six-yard box in the 16th minute to make it a 6-0 lead in favor of the Belles.
Megan Saunders registered the first goal of her collegiate career with a rocket of a strike from just outside the 18-yard box in the 33rd minute. A few minutes later, Lindsey Herdsman made a big run along the left flank, beat two defenders, and served a ball into the box. Alexis Hernandez buried the cross with a tap-in goal in the 36th minute. Elizabeth Schulte drew a penalty kick opportunity, and Kellen Hinchey fired in the shot from the mark in the 37th minute. Ashley Hernandez then had back-to-back far-post runs rewarded with goals for her first collegiate brace as Saint Mary's built an 11-0 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, the Belles maintained possession for long stretches of play. In the 57th minute, Lindsey Herdsman played a ball out wide to Sophie Bubnar. Bubnar crossed the ball into the center of the box, and Rose Stackhouse sent home her team-leading tenth goal of the year to make it 12-0.
The 12 goals marks the highest scoring output in a single game in program history. The Belles twice posted nine goals in a single contest - once in 1991 and once in 1992.
Ten different players registered at least a point in the game with eight different Belles tallying at least one goal each. Sophie Bubnar posted her first collegiate hat trick while adding an assist. Ashley Hernandez and Rose Stackhouse each had a brace for the Belles.
The Belles (5-6) return to MIAA competition on Tuesday, October 2 when they travel to Olivet for a 4:00 p.m. contest.