Belles look to score for victory
By SARAH RYKOWSKI
Sports Writer
The game plan is the same: they want to win. They won last year, but after Manchester they know that is no guarantee.
When the Belles face Adrian on Saturday, they have two things on their minds. First, to score, and, second, to come back to Saint Mary's the victor.
"I am ready to go out there and win since the loss Wednesday [against Manchester] was so disappointing," freshman Stephanie Artnak said. "I think we can take Adrian by surprise because we have a lot of heart and we're finally going to put it all together."
The Bulldogs, who will host Saturday's match, enter the game with more than a little to prove after league losses to Hope and Olivet. They also have a score to settle after last year's defeat at the hands of the Belles in the final minute of double overtime.
In that game, current Belles co-captain Heather Muth, then a freshman, ended a seemingly endless game with a last-minute shot which snuck past Bulldogs' netminder Sarah Moulik, also a freshman. Moulik finished the season with an Adrian record-setting 1.97 GAA.
"I'm just ready to do it again, if necessary," Muth said. "Hopefully we'll beat them in regulation this year."
Last year's victory over the Bulldogs marks the only loss Adrian suffered in a total of six overtimes. The Bulldogs finished the 1999 season with a 7-9-2 record. This season they are 3-5 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA.
Saint Mary's will face tough competition in returning Adrian players. Adrian senior Kelly Neumann is a three-time All-MIAA Honorable Mention, and has three goals thus far this season. Sophomore Jenny Perrin led the Bulldogs last year with 15 points, and leads again this year with three goals and one assist. Moulik has a 1.57 GAA average just into the 2000 season.
The Bulldogs are coached by Rick Gutierrez.
All Sports Stories for Friday, September 22, 2000
