NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Lacrosse kept their hot streak alive with a big 13-7 win over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point under the lights on Friday. The Belles improve to 8-1 to continue their hot start to the season while the Pointers fall to 5-2.
 
Both teams had a slow first quarter, combining for just seven total shots and two shots on goal. Stevens Point took an early 1-0 lead with just over six minutes to play in the quarter to head into the first break.
 
Saint Mary's came out and tied the game less than three minutes into the second quarter as senior Alyssa Grant (Oak Lawn, IL) found her footing early on. The Pointers would bounce back with back-to-back goals just two minutes apart to take a two-goal lead. Freshman June McMahon (River Forest, IL) cut the Belles deficit to one before junior Rachel Speckhard (Munster, IN) tied the ballgame with an assist from sophomore Piper Downey (Northbrook, IL) while they were a man up. As the Belles tried to head into the half tied, Stevens Point added another goal to head into the break ahead, 4-3.
 
Saint Mary's came out firing in the second half, scoring two goals in the first 27 seconds. Sophomore Annabelle Spruill (Brookhaven, GA) got on the scoresheet just 15 seconds in while Grant followed that up with a goal assisted by junior Kathryn Kalinowski (Atlanta, GA) just 12 seconds later. Stevens Point added a goal of their own to tie the game up, but the Belles offense could not be stopped. Downey added her first goal of the night with an assist from junior Lana Skibins (Granger, IN) to retake the lead for Saint Mary's before the Belles would score four goals in quick succession. Grant added her third goal of the night for her hattrick, assisted by Kalinowski, before Spruill and senior Mary Grace Heekin (Fayetteville, GA) added another goal each. Grant then finished off her run with her fourth goal of the night, also giving Kalinowski her third assist. The scoring wouldn't stop there in the third quarter as a minute later, McMahon added her second goal of the night while a man up. The Pointers added one more goal in the third to try and mount a comeback, but the Belles headed into the fourth quarter leading 11-6.
 
Kalinowski found the back of the net for the first time of the night midway through the fourth quarter while Speckhard picked up her first assist of the night. Stevens Point added their final goal before Grant would tally her fifth goal of the evening with an assist from Spruill to close out the Pointers and keep their hot start to the season alive with a 13-7 victory.
 
Grant led the team with five goals on the night, her sixth straight hat-trick, while McMahon and Spruill each added two. Kalinowski led the team with three assists on the night while four other Belles added one. Grant finished with five points while Kalinowski finished with four and Spruill with three. 
 
Defensively, freshman Ella Klingerman (Noblesville, IN) led with five ground balls while Speckhard grabbed four. Junior Sophia Delgado (Indianapolis, IN) led the team with three caused turnovers on the night while Spruill led with five draw controls and Speckhard snagged three.
 
In goal, sophomore Kaya Seaboy (Evansville, IN) tallied seven saves in her sixth win of the season.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's kicks off MIAA play on Wednesday, April 1, as they take a trip to Alma College. The Belles then head to Albion College on April 4 before returning home to host Adrian College on April 7 in their conference home opener.