SARASOTA, Fla. - Saint Mary's College Lacrosse fell for the first time this season, 12-11, at New College of Florida. The Belles fall to 3-1 on the year while the Mighty Banyans improve to 2-4.
 
New College got the scoring started first with a goal three minutes in, but the Saint Mary's offense bounced back with three unanswered goals of their own. Junior Kelsey King (Sylvania, OH) got on the board first to tie the game at one. Junior Rachel Speckhard (Munster, IN) and senior Alyssa Grant (Oak Lawn, IL) scored less than 30 seconds apart from another to put the Belles up 3-1. The Banyans added another goal at the end of the quarter to go into the first break with the Belles leading 3-2.
 
The second quarter was similar to the first, as New College added a goal early on before Saint Mary's threw in three more of their own. Junior Lana Skibins (Granger, IN) got her name on the score sheet before Speckhard added her second goal of the day with an assist from Grant. Sophomore Annabelle Spruill (Brookhaven, GA) got involved in the scoring to put the Belles up 6-3. The Banyans added another goal shortly after, but as the half winded down, both teams added another as freshman June McMahon (River Forest, IL) added a goal and the Banyans added one, giving Saint Mary's a 7-5 advantage at the half.
 
The Belles scored quickly in the second half as Speckhard secured her hat trick just a minute and a half in. Both teams would go on 3-0 runs as New College tied the game at eight before Grant added two more goals for her hat trick and junior Anneliese Kalman (Matthews, NC) added one of her own. Spruill, Speckhard, and junior Kathryn Kalinowski (Atlanta, GA) added assists on the three goals. New College added another goal to just into the deficit, leaving Saint Mary's ahead 11-9 heading into the final quarter.
 
The Banyans defense would step up big in the final 15 minutes, holding the Belles scoreless as they would score three goals in the quarter to take the lead and secure the win.
 
Speckhard and Grant both tallied hat tricks on the day while Skibins, McMahon, King, Spruill, and Kalman all added one goal. Spruill led the team with two assists while Speckhard, Grant, and Kalinowski added one. Grant and Speckhard led the team with four points on the day.
 
Grant also led the team with 10 ground balls while three Belles forced one caused turnover each. Spruill and McMahon both earned two draw controls each for the Belles. In goal, sophomore Kaya Seaboy (Evansville, IN) made 10 saves on the day, giving her back-to-back games with double-digit saves.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's continues and concludes their trip to the Sunshine State on Saturday as they take on Warner University at 1pm. The Belles then return home for back-to-back games on March 18 and 21, hosting the University of Wisconsin-Stout and Elmhurst University. The game against Elmhurst will also be Senior Day.