SAN ANTONIO – In a city known for famous last stands, the St. Mary's Rattlers women's soccer team gave as good as any, but the St. Edward's Hilltoppers prevailed with a 1-0 victory behind heroics from TRISTYN CABELLO and ABBY CARLSON. 

The Battle of the Saints has been a thrilling rivalry over the years, as evident by last year's 1-0 St. Edward's overtime victory. St. Mary's entered the game looking to end a six-game losing streak to the Hilltoppers with the momentum of a 6-0 record – the strongest start in Rattlers' program history, earning votes in the latest national rankings. 

St. Edward's responded with a dominant defensive performance, shutting down an offense that ranked third nationally in total goals (21) and assists (18). 

Both teams were stingy defensively, exchanging a single shot each over the first 20 minutes. The Rattlers threatened with a pair of shots three minutes apart with a shot by Kylie Von Holle sailing over the top of the crossbar at the 26-minute mark. St. Mary's made a final push in the last three minutes of the half with a shot over the top and a corner the Hilltoppers turned away. 

Outstanding efforts by roommates Cabello and Carlson made the difference in a tightly contested second half. 

MARYANNE CROWE deflected a clearance attempt by the Rattlers' defensive back row in the midfield, with the ball landing at the feet of CAITLYN GONZALEZ near the center circle, who immediately delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Cabello. 

Cabello received the ball running at full tilt with a one-on-one opportunity against St. Mary's keeper Rebecca Difronzo, who stepped out of the box to try and stop the break. Cabello met the challenge, flicking the ball over Difronzo's head from deep and watching it settle into the bottom-right corner of the net with a little under 18 minutes remaining. 

St. Mary's made several serious challenges over the final three minutes, highlighted by a penalty kick drawn by senior Rattler Megan Copeland at the 87-minute mark. Carlson made the right read, diving low and to the right to stop the initial shot, then rising fast enough to fall on the loose ball as her teammates celebrated. 

The Rattlers fired off two more attempts off target in the final minute, giving St. Edward's its first shutout since its opening-day victory over Newman. 

St. Edward's improves to 5-1-1 with a three-game win streak. St. Mary's drops to 6-1. The Hilltoppers will host Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.