BLUFFTON, Ohio - Jillian Bowen had her second brace of the season, Brianna Dewey earned her first goalkeeping win of her career, and the Saint Mary's soccer team came away with a 2-1 win at Bluffton University on a rainy Monday afternoon.

 

The Belles jumped on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute of play with a quick goal in transition. Brianna Dewey collected her second save between the posts as Saint Mary's looked to counter attack. Rose Stackhouse ultimately connected with Jillian Bowen, and the junior forward put away her first shot of the game to give the visitors a 1-0 lead less than a minute after the save by Dewey.

 

Bowen, Stackhouse, Mary Kaczynski, and Sydney Skarbek each peppered the Beavers' defense with shots over the next 12 minutes of action. As the opening period moved toward halftime, the Belles buried a second goal to gain even more momentum going into the break. Maya Cole and Rose Stackhouse ultimately connected passes to Bowen, and the junior earned her second brace of the year as she found the back of the net in the 40th minute of action.

 

Kaczynski and Bowen each put a shot on goal in the opening seven minutes of the second half before Stackhouse and Kazynski each added another shot over the first 15 minutes of the second period. Defensively, the Belles' backline blocked a shot and forced the Beavers into a shot off the mark as Saint Mary's continued to hold the 2-0 lead. Skarbek and Emily Stross tallied a shot on goal each midway through the half, and the Belles continued to press the Bluffton defense.

 

The Beavers, however, broke through for a goal in the 80th minute as the momentum shifted toward the home side. Bluffton earned a trio of corner kicks over the final nine minutes of action. Brianna Dewey was up to the task as the sophomore keeper pushed aside the only shot on goal the Beavers managed during that span to preserve the win for the Belles.

 

Saint Mary's held a 17-12 edge over Bluffton in total shots in the contest and held an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal.

 

Jillian Bowen recorded her second two-goal game of the season as the junior also collected her second game-winning goal of the 2021 campaign. Rose Stackhouse added her second two-assist showing of the year as the senior moved into fourth place all-time in Saint Mary's history in career assists while also eclipsing 70 career points. Maya Cole posted her second assist of the year for the Belles. Brianna Dewey made four saves and went the distance between the posts while earning her first collegiate win in goal.

 

The Belles (6-1) return home to host Manchester at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22.