On a damp and rainy Tuesday afternoon in Mid Michigan, the Alma College Women's Soccer team welcomed MIAA-foe Saint Mary's College (IN) to Scotland Yard for a key conference matchup. The Scots would battle back from a 2-0 deficit in the first half, but would ultimately lose 3-2 on a last second breakaway at home.

With the loss, the Scots drop to 8-5-1 overall and 6-4-1 in the MIAA. 

"It is really difficult to lose like that after playing so well in the second half," said Alma Head Coach Matt Saul. "We really just need to tighten up and play better - that has been the story all year for us."

Despite the muddy conditions, the Scots would get on the offensive early in the first half, collecting the first two shots of the game at 3:25 and 9:51.

The visitors would quickly recover, tallying three-consecutive shots before connecting with a header off a cross to take the 1-0 lead at 22:00.

The next 16 minutes would be played to a stalemate with both teams trying to find their footing in the muddy field conditions.

At 38:36, the Belles would convert another header off of a cross to extend the advantage to 2-0 late in the first half.

Both clubs would play the remainder of the half even and the score showed 2-0 after the first half of action.

Saint Mary's looked primed to score again in the beginning of the second half, recording four shots to just one by the Scots.

Alma would bounce back at 60:16, with Fr. D Brooke Steed (Franklin, TN/Centennial) drilling a shot from beyond the 18 to collect her first goal of the season and bring the Scots within one at 2-1.

Alma would turn up the offensive pressure in the latter part of the second half, collecting six shots compared to just one by the Belles.

With just under six minutes remaining in regulation and the Scots down 2-1, Fr. F Whitnee Foote (Mt. Pleasant/Mt. Pleasant) found Sr. MF Kailey Vlug (Coopersville/Coopersville) in front of the net to knot the score at 2-2.

The match looked destined to go into overtime but Saint Mary's would find the back of the net on an improbable breakaway with two seconds left to take the 3-2 victory on the road. 

Despite the loss, Alma held the advantage in shots on Tuesday 15-14 and corner kicks 2-0.

Vlug led the Scots with four shots (three on goal) and one goal at Scotland Yard.

In goal, Fr. GK Rachael Fokken (Pinckney/Pinckney) got saddled with her first loss of the season after being subbed in at the beginning of the second half. 

Alma returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 22, traveling to take on Olivet College at 4:00 p.m.