NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team took an early lead and never trailed in a 13-6 non-conference win over Adrian on Saturday afternoon.

 

Bridget Kane put the Belles on the scoreboard 2:17 into the game, and Katie Haas added the second goal of the contest just under five minutes later. Kane added a free position goal at 20:09 to put the Belles up 3-0 against the Bulldogs. Adrian got on the scoreboard with a player-up goal with under 19 minutes remaining in the half. Saint Mary's responded with back-to-back goals by Gabby Belsito to make it 5-1 midway through the period. Emily Kraker made a pair of solid saves on free position shots by Adrian to keep the score unchanged for the next nine-plus minutes of action. The Bulldogs, however, broke through with a goal at 4:41 to edge within three goals at 5-2. Erin Dotson came right back with a goal for the Belles, but Adrian quickly tallied a goal 39 seconds later for a 6-3 score with 3:30 on the clock. Bridget Kane capitalized on a player-up situation for the Belles with a free position goal less than two minutes later to give Saint Mary's a 7-3 edge at the halftime break.

 

Saint Mary's quickly expanded their lead in the early moments of the second half. Erin Dotson scored a pair while Gabby Belsito wrapped up a hat trick as the Belles struck three times in the span of 46 seconds to take over the momentum in the game. Dotson then added another goal 1:11 later for an 11-3 lead less than five minutes into the half. The two sides traded goals over the next 15 minutes of play as the Belles maintained their lead with Kane and Haas each picking up another goal. The defense, meanwhile, did not surrender back-to-back goals to the Bulldogs over the entire course of the game as the Belles captured the 13-6 win at home.

 

Erin Dotson set new career-high marks with four goals, four draw controls, and five ground balls. Bridget Kane matched her career-high mark with four goals while adding an assist and four ground balls. Gabby Belsito chipped in three goals and an assist. Katie Haas netted a pair of goals and had four draw controls. Molly Mullett tallied an assist with four draw controls. Emily Kraker made 10 saves in goal for the Belles. Alexi Fady, meanwhile, made her debut in goal as the junior closed out the final 2:41 of play for Saint Mary's between the pipes.

 

The Belles (4-2) have a week off from competition and will travel to Albion on Sunday, March 21 for a non-conference contest against the Brits at 3:00 p.m.