NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Lacrosse fell to MIAA opponent Hope College on Saturday afternoon, 22-4. The Belles fall to 10-3 (2-2 MIAA) on the year while the Flying Dutch improve to 9-2 (3-1 MIAA).

Hope came out firing, opening the game with a dominant offensive stretch where they scored seven out of the first eight goals. After Hope scored early, sophomore Piper Downey (Northbrook, IL) answered to even the score at 1-1. Junior Kelsey King (Sylvania, OH) added a late first quarter goal to cut into the deficit, but Hope carried a 7-2 lead after one quarter.

In the second period, the Flying Dutch went on to score 10 unanswered goals, where they would capitalize on Saint Mary's penalties. Despite multiple save efforts from sophomore goalkeeper Kaya Seaboy (Evansville, IN), Hope entered halftime with a 17-2 lead.

Saint Mary's came out of the half taking control of the third and fourth, holding Hope scoreless for stretches early on. Senior Alyssa Grant (Oak Lawn, IL) got things started for the Belles with an unassisted goal, then added another opportunity off an assist from junior Lana Skibins (Granger, IN).

Hope added three more goals in the fourth to close out the game and secure a 22-4 victory.

Grant led the Belles offensively with two goals, while King and Downey each added one. Skibins recorded the team's solo assist.

Defensively, Saint Mary's was paced by strong efforts in goal from Seaboy, who finished with 10 saves in 60 minutes of play. The Belles also totaled seven draw controls, led by Grant and freshman Sophia Martinello (Elmhurst, IL) with two and three.

UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES: 
Saint Mary's will host conference opponent Calvin University on Wednesday at 6pm. They will finish out the regular season at Kalamazoo College on Saturday, April 18, at 4pm and take on Trine University at home on April 21.