ALMA, Mich. - Saint Mary's College Soccer defeated Alma College, 1-0, on a rainy Saturday morning in MIAA play. The Belles improve to 8-3-2 (2-3 MIAA) while the Scots fall to 8-6-1 (0-4-1 MIAA).

As the rain fell throughout the first half, both teams struggled to get any serious chances offensively as players slipped left and right. Saint Mary's left the first half with a 6-1 advantage in shots and 2-1 in shots on goal as six different Belles would record an attempt at the Scots net. 

With five minutes remaining in the half, the Scots took a corner that sailed into the middle of the box which saw them put a head on it but bounce off the crossbar. As the ball fell to the ground and found the feet of both Belles and Scots, Saint Mary's sophomore goalkeeper Keona Caraballo (Parma, OH) kept her composure and smothered any further attack from Alma.

While the sun came out to start the second half, both teams continued to throw chances at one another. Saint Mary's continued to put pressure on opposing goalkeepers like they have all season, and their efforts paid off in the 72nd minute as the Scots goalkeeper was shown a yellow card inside the box after a collision, giving the Belles a penalty attempt. Junior Brooke Baumann (Bartlett, IL) stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner for her third penalty goal of the season, giving the Belles a 1-0 lead.

The Saint Mary's defense continued to hold strong as they shut down Alma attacks again and again, hardly allowing them to get a shot on target. As the final seconds of the match came, the Scots had an incredible chance with a one on one opportunity towards the Belles goal. Caraballo sprung from her line and met the attacker at the top of the box and knocked the ball off line, just enough for senior Grace Reyda (Penfield, NY) to clear the ball away and secure the 1-0 victory.

Freshman Mia Johnson (Mission Viejo, CA) led the team with four shots while Baumann added two. Both of Baumann's shots were on target to lead the team. Saint Mary's outshot Alma 12-7 and 6-5 in shots on goal. 

Caraballo made five saves in an impressive performance for the sophomore, marking the sixth shutout of the season for the team and the fourth for Caraballo.

UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES

Saint Mary's returns home for the final time this season as they host Albion College on Wednesday, October 22, at 4pm in the regular season home finale. The Belles then finish the season with back-to-back road games at Trine University on October 25 and at Hope College for the regular season finale on October 28.