After a close start at the beginning of the game, Saint Mary’s soccer took a 2-1 loss against the Bluffton Beavers.
During the first half of the game, the Belles jumped ahead with a 1-0 lead over the Beavers. Additionally, the Belles dominated in the first half, outshooting the Beavers 8-1. Senior midfielder Grace Barresi helped the Belles pull ahead, scoring the goal in the first half. Junior defender Lauren Ryan also earned her first assist of the season.
In the second half, Bluffton did not hesitate to push back, scoring a goal early on to tie the score at 1-1. Around the middle of the second half, the Beavers managed to pull ahead, scoring their second goal of the game. Despite multiple attempts to make a comeback, the Belles were unable to make a comeback, leading to a final score of 2-1.
Saint Mary’s was dominant offensively, outshooting the Beavers 22-7 and having an 11-5 shots-on-goal advantage. Senior goalkeeper Riley Lindsey made three saves off of the five shots that she faced. Five different players on the Belles soccer team reached double-digits in shots. Sophomore midfielder Margaret Slove led the team with seven shots, three being on goal. Barresi and senior forward Izzi Linus both totaled four shots. Freshman forward Taylor London made her first collegiate start and recorded three shots and alongside her, Ryan recorded two shots.
Despite this loss, the Belles prepare to host Knox College for their home opener on Saturday with kickoff set for 11 a.m.
