In the annual Morgan’s Message game, the Saint Mary's soccer team took a close, 1-0 win over the Kalamazoo Hornets on Wednesday. As the Belles improved to 6-3 on the season so far and 1-0 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, this game tallied the fourth game that the Belles have shut out another team and the first game in 11 years that the Belles beat Kalamazoo.
The first half looked in favor for the Belles as they scored their first goal just 2 minutes and 35 seconds in thanks to the help of senior midfielder Grace Barresi and an assist from freshman forward Taylor London. Throughout the first half, the Belles took four shots towards the Hornets while only allowing the Hornets to take one.
Kalamazoo came out during the second half as it started to apply pressure to Saint Mary's, but the Belles did not let that rattle them. The duo on the back line of junior Izzy Sherman and sophomore Brooke Baumann kept the Belles on top as they pushed back against the Hornets. Sophomore Claire Keely and freshman Danielle Escobedo held down the fort on the left and right back spots while freshman Isabella Kreydich defended the middle.
Barresi, senior midfielder Mary Kaczynski and sophomore midfielder Aubrey Brown led the team in shots, as the Belles outshot Kalamazoo 8-6. Although Kalamazoo outshot the Belles in shots on goal 4-3, senior goalkeeper Riley Lindsey tallied a season-high four saves on the evening.
The Belles look to keep their win streak going as they travel to face off against Calvin University this Saturday starting at 4:30 p.m.
The Calvin Knights are 5-2-2 on the season so far as well as 1-0 in the MIAA. Offensively, Olivia Rawls leads the Knights having a total of four goals on the season so far. Sophie Mueller leads the team on offense as well with a total of 25 shots taken so far this season.
