REDLANDS, Calif. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team came up short against Redlands in a 25-14 final to close out their spring break trip to the West Coast.
The host Bulldogs put two goals on the scoreboard in the opening 1:11 of action, but
Erin Doyle sent home a free position goal two minutes later. The teams traded goals over the next five minutes of play as
Kendra Osinski,
Gabby Belsito, and Doyle each sent home a goal to make it a 5-4 score in favor of Redlands with 20:18 on the clock.
Rachael Leonard won the next draw control, and Osinski capitalized on a free position attempt to pull the Belles even at 5-5.
The teams had another stretch of back-and-forth scoring with Osinski quickly completing the hat trick before netting her fourth goal of the game to tie the game yet again at 7-7 with 11:56 remaining before the halftime break. Redlands responded with a pair of quick goals and added to their lead with a third goal for a 10-7 lead before Osinski sent home another free position shot with 4:45 left in the period. The host Bulldogs, however, closed out the half on a 4-0 run to take a 14-8 lead into the break.
Redlands won the opening draw of the second half and quickly scored for a 15-8 advantage, but
Kate Kelly had a response for the Saint Mary's side with a free position goal less than three minutes into the period. The Bulldogs put three goals up in quick succession to push their lead to 18-9. The Belles continued to fight as
Bridget Kane found a cutting
Erin Doyle, who scored with more than 20 minutes to play.
Kate Kelly added another free position goal, and Doyle and Osinski each scored a few minutes later as the Belles edged within 20-13 with more than nine minutes remaining on the clock. The Bulldogs countered with a goal, but Kelly connected with Doyle for a goal less than a minute later to make it 21-14. Redlands, however, put together another late-half run of four unanswered goals to take the 25-14 final.
The Belles (2-3) have a break in play until they host Franklin on Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m.