NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The No. 25-ranked Carleton College women's soccer team was knocked out of the MIAC Playoffs after absorbing a 1-0 loss to third-seeded Saint Mary's University on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Knights (14-2-5) had multiple chances to get on the scoreboard as they out-shot the Cardinals (14-2-4) by an 11-8 margin, held a 7-1 edge in corner kicks, and owned a 60 percent-40 percent edge in possession time.
 
"While disappointed in today's result, I'm very proud of our team," said Carleton head coach Jessica Mueller. "We achieved a lot this year and worked incredibly hard, day in and day out. Today wasn't our day, but we have had a lot of really, really good days this season, and I know our program will continue to grow, develop and raise our level.
 
"And a huge congratulations to Saint Mary's. They've had a great year, and they were very deserving of today's result."
 
The Cardinals, who advanced to their first-ever MIAC Playoffs championship game, own the conference's stingiest defense as they entered play yielding only 0.47 goals per game. Meanwhile, Carleton was pacing the conference in scoring at 2.55 goals per contest.
 
Carleton—playing once again without All-American Piper Dean and fellow starter Hadley Twichell due to injury—began the game on the front foot and had three promising corner kick opportunities over the initial 27 minutes, but headers either went over the bar or were corralled by Saint Mary's goalkeeper Anna Peckosh, who now owns an active scoreless streak of 814 minutes.
 
The Cardinals first true test of Carleton goalie Avery Trapp came in the 31st minute, but she was up to the task, diving to her left to steer aside a strike from Hannah Bradley.
 
Pekosh finished the contest with five saves. She snared both Sam Gotch's 30-yard rocket before it could land in the upper 90 in the 37th minute and Disha Roy's laser attempt five minutes later.
 
After a scoreless first half, the lone goal of the contest came in the 64th minute. Trapp was unable to collect a lofted ball into the box, and it fell to the feet of Bradley, who took a couple touches before firing into the open net.
 
Saint Mary's went into a defensive shell to protect its narrow lead but nearly doubled its advantage in the 85th minute. A turnover sprung Cardinals' leading scorer Lauryn Skoruppa for a breakaway, but Trapp came off her line and registered her fourth save of the contest.
 
The Knights' best chance of the second half came 50 seconds later. Eliza Barton served the ball to the top of the six-yard box, but the Cardinal defense could not control the ball. That allowed Kathryn Kresse to run on for a shot, but it was blocked just outside the right post. Two late corner kicks failed to provide an opportunity for a quality attempt.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton, which won its third consecutive MIAC regular-season crown, entered the contest ranked No. 24 in the NCAA Power Index. The question now is how far wil the Knights inevitably drop on that chart following this result. The final NPI rankings will be used to allot the 21 at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament. The full 64-team bracket will be announced on Monday, Nov. 11.