NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's lacrosse team fell 17-5 against Hope in both teams' conference opener on Friday afternoon.

 

After a deadlocked four-plus minutes of play to open the game, visiting Hope used a free position goal to take a lead and scored a minute later for a 2-0 lead with 9:03 on the clock. Molly Mullett won the next draw but had a close-range shot saved. The Belles tried to turn defense into offense a short while later only to see Valentina Rubio's shot saved. The sides battled back and forth over the next four minutes with neither side finding success on offense. The Flying Dutch added a goal with 3:25 on the clock before scoring three quick goals in succession over the final two minutes of the quarter to gain the momentum and take a 6-0 lead.

 

Molly Mullett got the Belles into the scoring column after winning the draw, racing up the field, and burying a shot from the doorstep just 12 seconds into the quarter. Emma Zmudzinski made a save on the next shot she faced, but shots on goal by Mullett and Rubio were saved yet again to slow the comeback attempt. The Flying Dutch got a goal before Julia Gorski put away a goal off of a feed from Alyssa Grant. Saint Mary's, however, could not string goals together as Hope quickly put three more goals on the scoreboard for a 10-2 lead with 7:25 on the clock. Zmudzinski tallied two more saves over the next six minutes of action before the Flying Dutch used two goals in the final two minutes to gain a 12-2 lead.

 

Hope extended their lead with the first three goals of the third period. A blocked free position chance for the Flying Dutch saw Kate King come away with a ground ball, and the Belles got another goal by Molly Mullett just before the expiration of the clock in the quarter. The Flying Dutch scored a pair in the fourth for a 17-3 lead. The Belles continued to fight until the final whistle as Julia Gorski scored a free position goal with three minutes to go. Valentina Rubio added a free position goal of her own in the final minute, but the Belles fell short in the 17-5 final.

 

Molly Mullett and Julia Gorski had two goals apiece, and Valentina Rubio added a goal while Alyssa Grant tallied an assist. Mullett had four draw controls, three ground balls, and a caused turnover. Rubio posted a pair of draw controls and three caused turnovers, and Erin Dotson collected three draw controls, three ground balls, and three caused turnovers. Grant had three ground balls, and Elizabeth Bourassa picked up two ground balls. Emma Zmudzinski posted five saves, and Mila Swiacki added three saves in the fourth quarter.

 

The Belles (6-5, 0-1 MIAA) are back at home on Tuesday when they host Albion at 6:00 p.m. It will also be the team's Mental Health Awareness Game as fans are encouraged to wear green in support.