WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's soccer team headed into Tuesday's game against UW-Stout looking to end the nonconference portion of its schedule the same way it began—with a victory.
 
The Blue Devils, however, had other ideas.
 
UW-Stout scored early in the first half and held off a furious late-game Cardinal charge to deal Saint Mary's a 1-0 setback Tuesday evening at Ochrymowycz Field.
 
The Blue Devils scored what proved to be the game's only goal 21 minutes into the opening half, as Bethany Hanson rifled a shot past a diving Gabriella Pederson (Chaska, Minn.) and into the lower right-hand cover to give UW-Stout a 1-0 advantage.
 
An advantage the Blue Devils would not relinquish—no matter how hard the Cardinals tried.
 
Saint Mary's had its best offensive opportunity in the waning minutes of the second half, only to have a pair of headers off an Emily Loof (Colorado Springs, Colo.) corner kick clank off the crossbar.
 
Pederson and UW-Stout counterpart Lynn Johnson both finished with two saves in goal.
 
The Cardinals (5-9-1 overall) return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday, returning to Ochrymowycz Field for a 1 p.m. showdown with Macalester.