ROLLA, Mo. – One big strike Sunday afternoon and another strong defensive effort has put Missouri S&T into the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

The Miners got a second half goal from Bryce Phillips (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood HS) and recorded their third straight shutout as they closed out their home schedule with a 1-0 victory over Rockhurst at the S&T Soccer Field.  The win, the fourth in succession for the Miners, allowed Missouri S&T to clinch a berth into the conference tournament that will get underway next Sunday.

A tightly contested game was scoreless at halftime as the two teams combined for only five shots in the first 45 minutes. Play began to open up after the break, with the Miners getting a couple of shots on goal that were stopped by goalkeeper Stefano Radio.

In the 66^th minute, Phillips – one of four Miner seniors playing in their final home contest – entered the game as a substitute when the Miners got a corner kick opportunity.  Ryan Lawhead (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township)'s corner was cleared out from the front of the net by the Hawk defense, but Phillips tracked down the loose ball, turned back towards the Rockhurst goal and kicked the ball ahead before turning a shot loose from about 35 yards away.

The shot, which was hit into the wind, sailed over the outstretched arm of Radio and just under the crossbar to give the Miners the lead with just over 23 minutes remaining.

The Miner defense had to do the rest, as the Hawks picked up the pace on the offensive end following the goal.  It was up to the task, with S&T goalkeeper James Holloway (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Notre Dame Regional) stopping the two shots the Hawks got on net in the final 23 minutes to earn his seventh shutout of the season.  Holloway recorded saves on all three Rockhurst shots that made it on goal as the Hawks outshot S&T 12-4.

S&T's victory assured it a spot in the playoffs for the second straight season.  The Miners, now 8-6-2 overall and 7-5-2 in the GLVC, will play its final regular season contest Wednesday against Drury in Springfield, Mo.