The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team turned in a strong defensive effort but couldn't muster enough of an attack to upset visiting Thomas (Ga.) in its homecoming game Friday at Fin Land Field.

The Night Hawks, who received votes in this week's NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll, managed just enough offense to claim a 2-0 victory over the Sand Sharks, getting goals from Emma Hewett and Carina Spengler to remain undefeated in Sun Conference play. 

The Sand Sharks (4-6-1, 1-2 Sun Conference) controlled play early on, but Thomas (6-3-0, 3-0) settled in and broke through in the 16th minute. Jenny Hernandez played a cross from the right side, and Hewett deflected it inside the right post for the game's first goal. 

USCB's defensive intensity kept the Night Hawks from adding to the lead until the 70th minute, when a foul was called on the Sand Sharks just outside the penalty box and Spengler slipped a free kick into the right-side netting for a 2-0 advantage. 

"I thought we played well today - it was all 11 buying into what we were trying to do and pulling together," USCB coach Ed Heberling said. "We put in a new game plan, and the players did a good job of executing it. We just couldn't build enough of an attack." 

The Sand Sharks continue their homecoming weekend by hosting No. 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) for a conference match at 1 p.m. Sunday.