NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team held off visiting Goshen for a tight 4-3 win in a physical matchup on Friday night.

 

The Maple Leafs broke through with a goal in the eighth minute, and the visitors from Goshen had a shot stopped in the box by Lindsey Herdsman for the team save right before Brianna Dewey collected a save in the 15th minute. The Belles nearly had a combination play yield a scoring chance early on only to have a dangerous cross by Sophie Bubnar cut off by the goalkeeper. Saint Mary's broke through in the 22nd minute of action. Lindsey Herdsman served a pass to Jillian Bowen at the top of the box, and Bowen redirected the ball into space in the right side of the 18 for Rose Stackhouse. The keeper came off her line to try to challenge the play, but Stackhouse buried the close-range shot to knot the game.

 

Goshen regained the lead seven minutes later on a long-range shot from 35 yards out, but the Belles responded by putting pressure back on the Maple Leafs. Stackhouse sent a threatening cross into the box toward Sophie Bubnar that was punched out of play by the keeper for a corner kick. Less than a minute later, the Belles tallied the equalizer. Stackhouse played another ball toward the top of the 18-yard box. Lindsey Adent kept the ball alive while pushing the ball ahead to Bubnar. Bubnar then sent the ball back to the middle of the goal frame where Izzi Linus nearly walked the ball into the back of the net for her first collegiate goal.

 

The Belles took their first lead of the game in the 62nd minute of action. Bubnar was brought down in the box to earn a penalty kick, and fellow senior Rose Stackhouse had her number called and delivered with the penalty conversion for a 3-2 lead. Kara Stacey came up with two huge saves in the second half of action where the freshman netminder punched the ball over the crossbar. Saint Mary's then took advantage of a free kick in the 82nd minute. Emily Mikitka played the initial ball into space along the left sideline. Sydney Skarbek had plenty of time and space to send a pass into the box, and Mary Kaczynski tapped in her first collegiate goal to put the Belles ahead 4-2.

 

Goshen put high pressure on Saint Mary's over the final eight minutes of action as the Belles fought to fend off a comeback. The Maple Leafs scored a goal in the final minute of play, but the Belles came off the pitch with the win in the 4-3 final.

 

Rose Stackhouse had her third-consecutive two-goal effort for the Belles. Izzi Linus and Mary Kaczynski each registered their first collegiate goals with Kaczynski recording the game-winner. Jillian Bowen, Lindsey Herdsman, Sophie Bubnar, Lindsey Adent, Sydney Skarbek, and Emily Mikitka each picked up an assist. Brianna Dewey had the start in goal and made three saves over the opening 45 minutes of play. Kara Stacey earned the win after playing the final 45 minutes and making three big saves to hold the Goshen comeback at bay.

 

The Belles (4-0) travel to Franklin on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. contest against the Grizzlies.