After a failed first attempt, the Belles notched their first MIAA conference victory with a 6-0 blowout win over Trine Saturday.
Saint Mary's (4-7-1, 1-1 MIAA) jumped out to an early lead, netting its first goal just 16 minutes into the match when senior midfielder Colleen Ferguson found the back of the net. It was Ferguson's second goal of the season.
Senior forward Katy Durkin was next for the Belles, scoring the second goal of the match, before adding another in the second half. Durkin's goals against the Thunder gave her four on the season, making her the Belles' leading scorer.
Sophomore defender Taylor Paton gave Saint Mary's a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into halftime after receiving a pass from classmate Bridget Ronayne and burying a low shot inside the right post.
The second half offered more of the same from the Belles, who controlled the game from start to finish. After Durkin's goal in the 56th minute, senior Sam Smogor scored her first goal of the season five minutes later off an assist from Paton.
Ronayne capped the scoring with a successful penalty kick in the 73rd minute.
Once again the Belles got a solid performance in net from senior Patty Duffy. She made a save on the only first-half shot from the Thunder before giving way to freshman replacement Adele Bruggeman. Duffy's save brings her tally to 57 for the season. Bruggeman recorded her sixth save of the season on the Thunder's lone shot of the second half.
Saint Mary's kept the offensive pressure on for most of the game, outshooting Trine (0-11-0, 0-2 MIAA) by a margin of 23-2. The Belles also won the corner kick battle, winning 11 without surrendering one to the Thunder.
The Belles will now turn their attention to two more conference home games, the first coming against Calvin Tuesday. Saint Mary's will then face Alma Saturday before a final non-conference matchup with Elmhurst Oct. 14.
