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WINONA, Minn. — On the inside, Evan Claffy's (Joliet, Ill.) stomach might have been doing a few flip-flops as the freshman goalkeeper prepared to make his first start for the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team Saturday afternoon against Bethel.

But on the outside, Claffy was calm, cool and collected — much the chagrin of the Royals.

Claffy stopped everything Bethel threw at him Saturday, making several acrobat saves — including a leaping stop of BU's Cody Walkup two minutes into the first half, and another on a point-blank shot by the Royals' Kolten Fischer with less than six minutes remaining in regulation — in leading the Cardinals to a 1-0 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at Ochrymowycz Field.

"Give Evan a lot of credit, he did a great job out there today," said SMU coach Pete Watkins of his goalkeeper, who finished with seven saves in his collegiate debut. "(Claffy) came up big for us early and the guys kind of fed off of that.

"It was a gritty win," Watkins added. "The guys have worked hard all year and it's nice to finally get that first (conference) win under our belts."

With Claffy doing his best impersonation of a brick wall, one goal was all SMU would need — and Ryan Geidner (Antioch, Ill.) was more than happy to provide it, beating BU goalkeeper Chris Scott with an unassisted tally in the game's 14th minute.

"Getting on the board early was big for us," Watkins said. "Once we got the lead, the guys just grinded it out. I thought from start to finish, that was one of the better games we've played this season.

"Hopefully, we can carry this over into the final few games of the regular season."

The Cardinals (1-6-0 MIAC, 4-10-1 overall) are now off until next Saturday, when they travel to Collegeville, Minn., for a 1 p.m. conference showdown against the Johnnies.