NEWBERRY, S.C.—The Bellarmine University field hockey team ran its streak of shutouts to three with a 1-0 victory over Newberry College in an Eastern College Athletic Conference game at Setzler Field.
 
Bellarmine's Aimee Ilgenfritz tallied the game's only goal off an assist from Kathryn Schneidtmiller in the game's 27th minute.
 
The Knights' defense continued its strong play and allowed the Wolves just one shot on goal.  However, that one shot came on the game's final play and would have tied the score, but Bellarmine freshman goalie Heather Gregory swatted away the Newberry attempt and Sara Wilder cleared the ball to preserve the victory.
 
"I have to credit Newberry today for being the aggressor and playing an outstanding defensive match," said Bellarmine Coach Mark Blankenbaker.  "We played well overall, just struggled on the attack end finishing to the cage."
 
The Knights owned advantages in shots (9-3), shots on goal (7-1) and penalty corners (8-4), but Newberry's Dakota Elzy came up with six saves in the cage to help keep the game close.
 
"Winning 1-0 sure beats the opposite," Blankenbaker said. "Aimee scored on a really nice pass from Kat, and that is all we needed.  Of course, Heather's save on the last corner and Sara's clear off the block really sealed the win."
 
Blankenbaker also singled out midfielder Lillie Nitzken for outstanding play in tonight's game. "I don't know how many minutes she played, but we needed all of them," he said. "Newberry seems to focus on her with two and three players, but Lillie is a competitor and played her best game of the year."
 
The Knights improve to 10-5 overall and 4-2 in ECAC play while the Wolves slip to 5-9, 1-5 ECAC.
 
Bellarmine, which is in the midst of a stretch of three road games in three days, returns to action tomorrow at Belmont Abbey at 1 p.m.
 
BOX SCORE (HTM)