FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team had the majority of scoring chances in the contest, but the host Grizzlies found the back of the net in the 86th minute to take a 1-0 decision at Franklin College on Sunday afternoon.

 

The first half saw several chances barely miss from materializing into scoring plays. Jillian Bowen saw a dangerous centering pass fall three yards between both Sophie Bubnar and Rose Stackhouse before the Grizzlies' goalkeeper picked the ball up off the bounce. Bubnar had a cross in the box pushed away from her intended target of Rose Stackhouse just a few minutes later. Izzi Linus played a ball ahead for Bubnar, and Bubnar threaded a pass through the defense for Jillian Bowen to run onto only to have Bowen pinched by the Franklin center backs to halt the scoring chance. 

 

Bubnar had a pair of shots miss the mark, Maya Cole saw a shot from distance get saved, Becca Stella's header on a corner kick was stopped a step in front of the goal line, and Rose Stackhouse had an effort from the top of the box saved late in the opening period of play as the Belles outshot the Grizzlies 10-3 over the opening 45 minutes.

 

The second half saw the Belles maintain possession while continuing to apply pressure to the Franklin midfield and backline. Maya Cole nearly put Saint Mary's ahead in the 52nd minute of play. A loose ball in the box was unable to be controlled by any of the Belles' attacking players, but the ball found its way to the midfield. Cole fired a well-placed and well-paced shot from 25 yards out on-frame, but the effort was punched over the crossbar at the last second. The ensuing corner kick for the Belles also yielded a scoring chance. Cole's cross from the corner made its way into the box, and Becca Stella had a strong header shot toward the far post. The Grizzlies' keeper, however, came up with yet another save as the game remained scoreless. 

 

Mary Kaczynski and Stackhouse each had a solid service from wide over the next stretch of play. Kaczynski's pass was intercepted before Bowen could make the far-post run pay off. Stackhouse's strike, meanwhile, found Izzi Linus at the far post, but another save kept the scoresheet clean with under 30 minutes remaining on the clock. The pressure continued over much of the next 25 minutes as Jillian Bowen registered two shots and Emily Mikitka fired a mid-range shot for the Belles. 

 

With less than five minutes remaining in the second period, the Grizzlies broke through with a goal off a shot from 18 yards out to take a 1-0 lead late. The Belles had a solid look at a potential equalizer in the final minute of play when Emily Stross had the ball at her feet in the box after a supporting run, but the junior's strike was stopped point-blank by the keeper as host Franklin held on for the 1-0 final.

 

Saint Mary's outshot Franklin 20-5 in the game with 11 of those shots being on-goal. The Belles had seven different players register at least one shot on goal in the contest led by Maya Cole's three. Jillian Bowen and Becca Stella each added two shots on goal. Kara Stacey made three saves for Saint Mary's.

 

The Belles (4-1) will look to bounce back next Saturday when they travel to Anderson for a 1:00 p.m. contest against the Ravens.