BELOIT, WI – Facing a formidable opponent in St. Mary's College (IN), the Beloit College Buccaneers displayed moments of grit and offensive chemistry this afternoon at home. While the final score favored the visitors 22-3, the Buccaneers (0-5, 0-0 NACC) highlighted their potential with a spirited second-period performance and a defensive effort that matched their opponents in the trenches.
The highlight of the match for the Buccaneers came in the second frame, where the team found their rhythm and put three goals past the St. Mary's defense.
Beloit broke onto the scoreboard early in the second period when Willow Mashkuri (Middlesex, Vt.) found the back of the net at the 14:35 mark, capitalized on a smooth assist from Menah Garcia (New Hope, Minn.). The momentum continued midway through the period as Tate Hutchinson (Calgary, Alberta) scored at 9:30, assisted by Mashkuri, cutting into the visitor's lead. Just minutes later, Garcia turned from playmaker to finisher, netting an unassisted goal at 7:58 to cap off Beloit's scoring for the afternoon.
During this stretch, the Buccaneers proved they could compete with the high-powered St. Mary's squad, accounting for all three of their goals and half of their total shots for the game in that single 15-minute window.
Several Buccaneers stood out for their tireless work across the field. Leading the offensive charge, Mashkuri finished the day with two points (1 goal, 1 assist) and led the team with six shots. She was also a force in the midfield, winning 4 draw controls and picking up 3 ground balls. Garcia was instrumental in the Buccaneers' attack, recording a goal and an assist for a two-point afternoon while adding 2 ground balls. In addition to her second-period goal, Hutchinson was vital in gaining possessions, matching Mashkuri with a team-high 4 draw controls. The Buccaneer goalkeeper, Kim Pilon (Birch Run, Mich.) was under pressure throughout the 60 minutes but remained resilient, recording 8 saves. Pilon also led the team defensively with 6 ground balls. Kylie Wolff (Alberta, Canada) anchored the defensive effort, leading the team with 3 caused turnovers and securing 3 ground balls.
Despite the offensive onslaught from St. Mary's (7-1), Beloit fought hard for every 50-50 ball. The Buccaneers ended the game tied with the Belles in total ground balls, with both teams picking up 27. This statistical deadlock underscores the "never-quit" attitude of the Beloit roster, as players like Julia Fussy (Mahtomedi, Minn.) (3 GB) and Britni Detsch (Somerset, Wis.) (2 GB) consistently battled for possession.
The Buccaneers open NACC play on Saturday when they host the Aurora University Spartans at 3 pm.
