BLUFFTON, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team saw its three-game winning streak snapped – but gained a measure of confidence – with a 4-0 loss to No. 8 Keiser in a Sun Conference matchup Thursday at Fin Land Field.

The Sand Sharks trailed just 1-0 until the 63rd minute before a flurry of three goals in 16 minutes helped the Seahawks seal a hard-fought victory. 

"I am proud of the team tonight," USCB coach Ed Heberling said. "They played with heart and intensity and fought for 90 minutes. Caroline Bowman and Karen Pimentel were superb in the back line, and our central mids played extremely well." 

USCB had been outscored 31-0 in three previous meetings but did not back down from the challenge, playing the Seahawks even until the 32nd minute, when Beth Smyth played a cross from the right corner to Linnea Lindmark at the far post. The Sand Sharks recovered and kept it a one-goal contest until the 63rd minute, when Johanna Engberg's cross from the left wing found Amanda Blixt's foot for a 2-0 lead.

The Seahawks had a chance to put it away eight minutes later, but USCB goalkeeper Pascale Rocca stopped Engberg's penalty kick and turned away a second shot to give the Sand Sharks a surge of momentum. USCB couldn't break through, though, and Engberg volleyed a pass from Stephanie Morini for the third goal in the 76th minute before Lindmark put away a penalty kick three minutes later to seal it.

The Sand Sharks are tied for third in the Sun Conference standings with 12 points, but they're only three points clear of a group of four teams – two of which remain on their schedule. USCB will host Johnson & Wales (9 points) at noon Saturday before wrapping up the regular season with road games at SCAD Savannah (21 points) and Thomas (9 points). 

"We have turned a corner in the last few weeks and our girls are playing at another level," Heberling said. "We need to show up on Saturday for a big game, because JWU will be ready."