ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine University women's lacrosse team started slowly in their contest against visiting Saint Mary's College and could not recover. Despite an impressive run in the second half, the team ultimately fell to the visitors by the score of 16-7.
The Belles came out firing on all cylinders scoring seven straight over the course of the first 12 minutes of the game.
Sophomore Kristin John (South Bend, Ind. / St. Joe's) finally found the back of the net for the Thunder with just under 17 minutes remaining in the half. Classmate Shea Rayburn (Attica, Ind. / Attica) came up with the team's other goal of the half in the final five minutes.
Saint Mary's would score six more goals in the period and took a 13-2 lead into intermission.
Trine struck first out of the break as sophomore Kristen Nguyen (Locust Grove, Ga. / Luella) came up with the unassisted tally in with 27 minutes left in the contest. The Belles responded with two goals of their own to take their biggest lead of the day at 15-3.
But the Thunder delivered a response of their own on the back of a strong defensive effort. Over the course of the final 20 minutes of the contest, the team allowed just one goal while scoring three of their own. The streak pulled the Thunder back within nine and they would end there, dropping the contest 16-7.
During the stretch John scored two more goals to finish the day with three, leading the team. Also tallying goals were freshmen Chloe Vruno (Geneva, Ill. / St. Francis) and Peri Darmofal (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead). Nguyen added the team's lone assist of the contest on the final goal of the day.
In goal, sophomore Emily Morthorst (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) played the game for the Thunder and finished with 13 saves, most coming during the team's second-half run. Behind Morthorst's effort, Trine becomes the first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opponent to hold the Belles under twenty goals this season.
The Thunder fall to 4-6 overall and 0-2 in MIAA play. they will continue their season by traveling to face Adrian College on Wednesday, April 10. Opening draw is scheduled for 5 p.m.