MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — If there's one thing that can be said about the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team, it's that the Cardinals have nerves of steel — and a true resourcefulness for finding a way to win.
 
After all, the Cardinals entered Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown with Augsburg having played seven straight games decided by one goal or less, going 5-1-1 in those contests — including back-to-back-to back 1-0 wins in which SMU scored in the waning minutes of regulation or in overtime.
 
The Cardinals were involved in yet another one-goal, 1-0 outcome in their matchup of two MIAC titans.
 
This time around, however, it wasn't the Cardinals who mustered some late-game magic, as Augsburg scored the game's only goal in the 71st minute in handing Saint Mary's its first conference loss of the season, 1-0, at Edor Nelson Field.
 
After a scoreless first half — in which Augsburg held a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal — the Auggies broke the deadlock with 19 minutes in regulation, as Ana Ortiz found the back of the net, beating Saint Mary's goalkeeper Madison Mora (Honolulu, Hawaii) with what proved to be the only goal of the game.
 
Augsburg finished with a 22-13 advantage in shots attempted, including a 9-6 edge in shots on goal. Alexis Nguyen stopped all six shots she faced, before giving way to Mora — who made two saves — due to injury in the 50^th minute. Iz Shuster, meanwhile, stopped all six Saint Mary's shots en route to the shutout.
 
The Cardinals (4-1-1 MIAC, 10-1-1 overall) — who are now tied with Augsburg atop the conference standings pending St. Catherine's outcome against Macalester later Saturday evening — are back in action on Tuesday, playing host to St. Olaf in a 4 p.m. MIAC matchup at Ochrymowycz Field.