Adrian, Mich. - Saint Mary's College Lacrosse battled to beat out conference opponent Adrian College, 10-9, on Tuesday afternoon in a hard fought overtime battle. The Belles improve to 5-6 (2-1 MIAA) while the Bulldogs fall to 8-4 (0-3 MIAA).
Adrian would take a quick 5-0 lead in the first quarter before Saint Mary's would get on the board at the start of the second with sophomore Rachel Speckhard (Munster, IN) at the 13:14 mark to bring the Belles back together. The goal was assisted by sophomore Kathryn Kalinowski (Atlanta, GA). The Belles would score again at the end of the second by sophomore Kate Crema (Western Springs, IL). This would cut the deficit to four just before the break.
The Bulldogs would add another quick goal to open the second half but not long before the Belles would add one too with junior Mary Grace Heekin (Fayetteville, GA) hitting the back of the net with another Kalinowski assist. With just under two minutes left in the third, freshman Annabelle Spruill (Brookhaven, GA) would find an opening to make it 7-4.
Saint Mary's would make it a fight to the end starting with a sophomore Lana Skibins (Granger, IN) goal. Another Spruill goal would put the Belles within one, but Adrian would respond, making it 8-6 with just over six minutes left. Spruill would come right back with her third goal of the day, bringing on the momentum. Freshman Piper Downey (Northbrook, IL) would get her second goal of the season to tie it up. Within thirty seconds of the free position shot by Downey, Spruill would find an opening giving the Belles the lead. Adrian would tie it to extend the game into overtime.
With six minutes of overtime, Saint Mary's and Adrian would stay even till the end just until the final 28 seconds of the game. Speckhard would get the first and last goals of the game to save the Belles and take the win over the Bulldogs.
Spruill would lead the team with four goals while Speckhard would add two, bringing her season total to 20. Kalinowski would get two assists on the day with Skibins having one. Spruill would lead the team with 10 shots. Kalinowski would lead the team with seven ground balls. Senior goalkeeper Emma Zmudzinski (Granger, IN) would make eight saves in the four quarters of play.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES:
Saint Mary's returns home for an in-state conference battle with Trine University this Saturday, April 12, at 1pm at the Purcell Athletic Fields. This will also be the Belles annual Morgan's Message game. The Belles will near the end of their season and hit the road to take on Kalamazoo College on April 16 and Calvin College on April 19.
