CHICAGO, Ill. - Saint Mary's College Lacrosse defeated Illinois Tech, 8-5, on Tuesday evening. The Belles improve to 2-0 on the year while the Scarlet Hawks fall to 0-2.
Saint Mary's got on the board first, just a minute and a half into the game, to take the early lead. Junior Kelsey King (Sylvania, OH) found the back of the net off a pass from fellow junior Kathryn Kalinowski (Atlanta, GA) to give the Belles the advantage early. Illinois Tech responded with a goal of their own shortly after before Kalinowski found the back of the net herself with eight minutes to play in the quarter to take the lead back. Junior Rachel Speckhard (Munster, IN) assisted Kalinowski's goal. The Scarlet Hawks scored with just under four minutes to play to head into the first break even at 2-2.
The second quarter was quiet for both teams before Speckhard finished a shot home to retake the lead midway through the quarter. The Belles defense held strong, including stopping a couple free position attempts to keep Illinois Tech at bay for the majority of the second 15. But the Scarlet Hawks were able to level the game with just 11 seconds to play, sending both teams into halftime tied at 3-3.
Illinois Tech got the second half scoring going less than four minutes into the half to take their first lead of the game. Saint Mary's would bounce right back, scoring three goals in the final eight minutes of the third quarter. Junior Lana Skibins (Granger, IN) got the scoring started off a pass from Speckhard. Speckhard then added her second goal of the night to retake the lead for the Belles. With just a minute and a half remaining, sophomore Annabelle Spruill (Brookhaven, GA) scored off of a free position shot to extend the Belles lead, 6-4, heading into the final quarter.
The Belles continued their scoring streak to open the fourth quarter as Speckhard secured her hat trick with a goal six minutes into the quarter while being a man down. Senior Alyssa Grant (Oak Lawn, IL) added onto the Saint Mary's lead for the final time. Grant also assisted Speckhard's goal while Speckhard assisted Grant's. Illinois Tech added one final goal with just under two minutes to play in the game as the Belles closed out their 8-5 win.
Speckhard led the team with three goals on the night while also leading with three assists of her own. Skibins, King, Spruill, Grant, and Kalinowski all added one goal on the night. It was the first goal of the season for King and Kalinowski. Skibins, Grant, and Kalinowski also added an assist on the night. Speckhard, Spruil, and Grant all led the team with six shots as the Belles outshot the Scarlet Hawks, 23-13.
Defensively, the Belles forced Illinois Tech into 25 turnovers on the night while tallying 15 caused turnovers. Speckhard had a team high three caused turnovers while senior Mary Grace Heekin (Fayetteville, GA) and freshman Sophia Martinello (Elmhurst, IL) added two each. Speckhard also led the team with six ground balls. In goal, sophomore goalie Kaya Seaboy (Evansville, IN) tallied four saves on the night.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's takes a week long break before traveling back to Illinois as they head to Naperville to take on North Central College on Tuesday, March 3. After the matchup with the Cardinals, the Belles head south for their annual spring break trip as they head to Florida with games against New College of Florida, March 10, and Warner University, March 14.
