ROLLA, Mo. – Looking to cap off a perfect weekend at home in as the race for the postseason tightens, the Missouri S&T Soccer women's soccer team was back at Allgood-Bailey Stadium Sunday for a match with the Missouri-St. Louis Tritons. A first half goal by the Miners (6-4-2, 5-3-2) ended up being the difference in a closely contested match with the Tritons (6-6-2, 4-5-2) that ended with a final score of 1-0.
 
Paige VanDaele (Cottleville, MO/Francis Howell Central) had the first look on goal of the afternoon in the 11th minute but the opening salvo of the game missed off right of goal. The two sides continued to exchange shots as the half progressed with neither finding success in finding the net.
 
With things still scoreless, an UMSL foul in the 30th minute resulted in a free kick for the Miners. Danielle Hopkins (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) lined up the set piece from about 30 yards out and let fly on a ball into the box. In the chaos inside the box, the ball caromed ever so slightly off a Triton defender and slipped past the goalie to put the Miners on the board for Hopkins' second goal of the season.
 
S&T looked to double their lead moments later on a shot by Sydney Gratz (Geneva, IL/Geneva) but the ball deflected off the crossbar and away as the 1-0 score held as the half came to a close. Through 45 minutes of play, S&T outshot UMSL 5-4.
 
Kristin Steins (Ballwin, MO/Parkway South) made her first save of the day shortly after play resumed, snaring a shot in the 50th minute to keep the Tritons off the board. A shot attempt by Ally Hasken (Freeport, IL/Freeport) less than a minute later missed its mark as S&T looked to extend their lead. With the UMSL defense finding ways to stymie shot opportunities for the Miners, Steins held firm in goal to keep the shutout intact. The fifth-year senior recorded three more saves during the half, with the last coming in the final two minutes as the match concluded with a 1-0 decision in favor of the Miners.
 
Steins posted her sixth solo shutout of the season and recorded four more saves to bring her season total to 46. VanDaele had three of S&T's seven shots in the match with Hopkins finishing with two and Gratz and Hasken making up the balance. UMSL finished with an 11-7 advantage in shots while the Miners held a 4-2 edge in corner kick opportunities.
 
Up next, the Miners hit the road for their final two away matches of the 2021 regular season, with their first stop Friday against the Indianapolis Greyhounds. Kickoff is set for 4 P.M. Central Time.