Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — With four games left in the regular-season, the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team knew exactly what was on the line Thursday afternoon against Hamline.

If the Cardinals were to make a run at one of the four Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament berths, they needed a win against the Pipers.

And thanks to Kendra Maloney (Green Bay, Wis.) on the offensive end and Jennifer Johnson (Racine, Wis.) & Co. on the defensive end, a win is just what they got.

Maloney netted the game's only goal on a header off a corner kick from teammate Amy Cory (Crystal Lake, Ill.) late in the first half and Johnson turned aside all nine shots she faced as SMU blanked the Pipers 1-0 — and that all-important first step towards that post-season berth.

"It was a big win, no question about it," said SMU coach Tony Guinn, whose team has now won three straight — all by shutout. "Our goal all season has been to make the (conference) tournament, and we know that every game from here on out is important for us to achieve that goal.

"Winning games in this conference is tough," continued Guinn. "Every team you play is a quality team. Hamline came in with just two (MIAC) wins, but their record doesn't do them justice — they are a very good team."

The Cardinals, ranked No. 9 in the latest NCAA Central Region poll, got all the offense they would need in the game's 42nd minute as Maloney redirected Cory's corner kick past Hamline goalkeeper Andrea Eilertson for the game's only goal.

"That was a great goal — you don't see many headers (for goals), and that was a real pretty one," said Guinn. "It was nice to get that goal right before half, it really gave us the momentum and we carried that into the second half."

With the win, SMU moves to 5-3-0 in the MIAC — just two points the third-place logjam of St. Benedict, St. Thomas and Augsburg with three games to play.

"The key for us is to stay focused," Guinn said. "We've got a real important game on Saturday (at St. Benedict), and we are going to need to be at our best if we want to come away with another win."