SMC Soccer: Albion escapes scare from Belles in victory
By: KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
Last year Albion, the MIAA conference champion, dominated Saint Mary's. This year, the Belles almost managed to pull it out.
In its second MIAA matchup of the season, Saint Mary's fell to Albion 4-2. However, at half time it looked like the Belles might just have an upset victory on their hands. The score was tied at two.
"The fact that we were tied with people who won our conference was great," said sophomore forward Jen Concannon.
However, just two minutes into the second half, the Britons took the lead and never looked back. Freshman midfielder Jayne Godlew scored her first collegiate goal on a pass from senior forward Stacey Supanich to give the Britons a lead they would not relinquish.
"They have a couple of key players," said Concannon. "Especially their forward, No. 20 [Supanich]."
Albion had taken an early 2-0 lead in the first half, but Saint Mary's fought back.
Freshman Carrie Orr scored on a penalty kick, and sophomore Stephanie Artnak hit a goal just 13 minutes later on an assist from Concannon.
"I think after we got our first goal, we figured we could actually play with these guys, and then we got our second goal and it gave us even more [confidence]," Concannon said.
But Godlew broke the tie, and then junior forward Lauren Gentry added an insurance goal with an assist from senior defender Theresa Kolly.
Supanich opened scoring for Albion just nine minutes into play on an assist from sophomore midfielder Karen LaFlair. Only seven minutes later, Gentry scored on an assist from Supanich.
Saint Mary's goalie Maureen MacDonald tallied five saves for the day, while Albion's Erica Williams had six.
The loss drops the Belles to 1-1 in MIAA and 3-4 overall.
The win gave the Belles confidence in the fact that they have improved immensely as a team. The three wins they have recorded this season are as many as they recorded all last year.
"I think we have taken drastic steps from last year," Concannon said. "Last year was a starting out year, but this year we should be 10 times better."
Saint Mary's next match is on Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Alma.
All Sports Stories for Monday, September 23, 2002
