NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Soccer earned a strong 1-0 win over Franklin College at home on Saturday. The Belles improve to 3-2 on the year while the Grizzlies fall to 2-3.
The Belles offense peppered the Grizzlies defense throughout the entire first half, controlling the ball for the majority of the time. Saint Mary's offense would outshoot Franklin 11-1 in the first 45 minutes alone with four shots coming on target. The Belles also added eight corner kicks in the first half alone with multiple favorable looks at goal as junior Kayla O'Neal (Carlsbad, CA) had a stellar showing on set pieces. While the Belles dominated, the two teams went into the first break scoreless.
While Franklin tried to get some offense going in the second half, the Saint Mary's defense continued to hold strong and not allow a true offensive threat all match. The Belles continued to pepper the Grizzlies goalkeeper throughout the half while outshooting their opponent 8-1 in the second half with three shots on goal. Late in the half, after the ball bounced around in the midfield, freshman Ainsley Johnson (Cincinnati, OH) found the ball at her feet and played a strong through ball right through the Franklin defense to find the foot of sophomore Mia Johnson (Mission Viejo, CA) who slotted the ball past the Grizzlies keeper to take a 1-0 lead with four minutes to play. The Belles continued to dominate the ball throughout the final minutes to take home the win.
Mia Johnson and junior Isabella Kreydich (Tinley Park, IL) each tallied four shots on the game while freshman Isabella Knese (St. Louis, MO) added three off of headers on corner kicks. Mia Johnson also added a team best two shots on goal.
The Belles defense played strong, allowing just two total shots as sophomore goalkeeper Meghan Krayer (Hinsdale, IL) did not have to face a shot on target.
As a team, the Belles outshot the Grizzlies 19-2 and 7-0 in shots on target. They also finished with a 15-0 advantage in corner kicks.
On a hot September Saturday afternoon, Krayer, Isabella Knese, graduate Ava Slater (Fort Wayne, IN), senior Brooke Baumann (Bartlett, IL), and freshman Chloe Knese (St. Louis, MO) all played all 90 minutes on the day while freshman Elizabeth Pranger (Fort Wayne, IN) played 80 minutes.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's hits the road for their next matchup on Wednesday, September 16, as they head west to take on Wheaton College for an 8pm EST kickoff. The Belles return home on September 26 as they host Lake Forest College for a 3pm Saturday kickoff.
