The Saint Mary’s soccer team headed into Saturday’s game looking to regain the form that served it well at the start of the season, as the Belles had just lost two in a row after going unbeaten through their opening eight games.
The Belles went into Saturday 6-2-2 with head coach Farkhod Kurbonov doing an excellent job and freshman forward Mia Johnson leading the way with 10 goals on the season so far. Adrian had a mixed start to the season, sitting at 3-7-1, but picked up a big 5-1 win at Alma College on Wednesday night, so it was looking to build upon the momentum from that game coming into Saturday’s clash.
It was Senior Day for the Belles, who honored their six seniors: midfielder Janelle Aiello (Plymouth, Michigan), midfielder Grace Reyda (Penfield, New York), defender Lauren Ryan (Carmel, Indiana), defender Izzy Sherman (Fort Wayne, Indiana), midfielder Ava Slater (Fort Wayne, Indiana) and midfielder Brynn Stauffacher (Osceola, Indiana).
The Belles started the game very positively, dominating play and forcing Adrian to make a number of fouls, and forcing an early change from Bulldogs head coach Nathan Kronewetter. The Belles were unable to capitalize upon this dominance, though, making early changes of their own and forcing a number of good saves from Adrian senior goalkeeper Katelyn Stanton. Sherman also came close as she had an attempt ricochet off the crossbar around the half-hour mark.
The sides went into the break goalless, with both making a number of changes in order to try and change the game. Ultimately, it was these substitutions that were the deciding factor between the sides, as the Bulldog bench was able to have a much greater impact on the game.
The Belles started the second half as they ended the first, but ultimately their lack of clinical finishing meant it was Adrian who took the lead through a brilliant strike from sophomore defender Delaney Batur, which nestled in the top left corner out of sophomore goalkeeper Keona Caraballo’s reach. It was here that things went downhill for the Belles, as their continued pressure was unable to leave a mark on the scoreboard, leading to the Bulldogs going rampant with three goals in the final 15 minutes. The first was an instant impact from the senior substitute defender Zoe Greenbaum, who found the back of the net three minutes after coming on. Midfielders Alanna Earl and Isobel Malcolm extended the Bulldogs’ lead further, ensuring it was a Senior Day to forget for the Belles, who fall to 6-3-2.
The Belles will move their attention to Tuesday, Oct. 14, where they face a struggling Olivet side that sits at 2-11 for the season but is winless and goalless in its last eight. Their struggles in front of goal have scarred their season so far, only scoring three out of 91 shots. The Belles will seek to capitalize upon this poor form and break their own goalless streak, and the freshman partnership of Johnson and Bella Musachio up top will be hopeful up against a Comets defense that only has one clean sheet on the season so far.
The Belles will kick off at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Purcell Athletic Fields, and the game will also be livestreamed on Saint Mary’s College athletics website. For Tuesday’s matchup, the Belles will also be celebrating their annual Morgan’s Message Game in order to raise awareness for student-athletes’ mental health.
