St. Joseph, Minn. -- The College of Saint Benedict soccer team (6-5-2, 4-3 MIAC) suffered a dramatic 1-0 loss at the hands of first-place Gustavus (8-4-1, 6-1 MIAC) today.

The Blazers outshot the Gusties 11-8, but the Gusties only needed one shot to defeat the Blazers. In the game's 84th minute, Gustie forward Hannah Sturtz took a pass from Emily Skogseth on the left side of the field and lobbed a shot over Blazer keeper Heather Kaluzniak. That goal was Sturtz's fourth of the year, and sealed the Gusties' eighth win in nine games.

Although the Blazers were unable to find the net, they were not without chances to score.

In the 58th minute, the Blazers were awarded a corner kick. Junior defender Jessica Trossen booted the ball into the box. Senior midfielder Megan Lenz headed the ball towards the goal, where senior forward Gracie Vaughan headed it again--only to have it hit the crossbar and be blasted out of the zone by a Gustie defender.

Just four minutes later, senior forward Aly Hoffman was on a breakaway in the box when a Gustie defender fouled her to save the goal. On the subsequent penalty kick, Hoffman hit the crossbar, and the ball was again booted out of danger by the Gustie defense.

The Blazers had one last chance, this time with three minutes on the clock. Junior forward Taylor Hedin beat the Gustie defense and had a breakaway on the left side. She sent the ball past the Gustie keeper, but it rolled just inches by the right goal post and out of bounds.

With the win, the Gusties move into first-place in the MIAC standings. The Blazers remain tied for fourth with four other teams in the conference.