LEAVENWORTH, KAN. - The University of Saint Mary women's soccer team earned a 1-0 victory over Ottawa University in their conference home opener. Josie Hallier provided the decisive moment, scoring the only goal of the game in the 41st minute with a well-placed penalty kick, giving the Spires a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The match remained well-balanced, with both teams creating chances throughout. The game saw a total of 25 shots, but it was USM's defense that held firm, supported by goalkeeper Marisol Vargas, who made 8 key saves to keep Ottawa off the scoresheet.
Vargas' clean sheet and the Spires' defensive discipline helped secure the win, marking a strong start to their conference play. USM held their ground in the second half to claim the 1-0 victory and their first conference win of the season.