HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team made the top team in the Sun Conference work the full 90 minutes but couldn't pull off an upset Thursday night, falling 1-0 to No. 23 SCAD Savannah at the SCAD Athletics Complex. 

The Sand Sharks played the Bees even until Meadhbh Deeney's strike in the 57th minute delivered the lone goal of the game, and USCB was unable to convert any of its handful of promising opportunities late in the game. 

Senior goalkeeper Pascale Rocca kept the Sand Sharks in the match with nine saves, including a spectacular leaping stop of a Deeney strike in the 13th minute that helped preserve a scoreless tie at halftime. 

USCB put the pressure on early in the second half but gave away a ball in the midfield that led to Deeney's blast beyond Rocca's reach. The Sand Sharks created numerous chances for the equalizer, perhaps the best coming on Brittney Neser's header of a free kick that floated just over the crossbar, but couldn't cash in. 

"SCAD was very active, but our backline played well again to keep any real chances to a minimum," USCB coach Ed Heberling said. "In the second half we became a little more active and generated some chances. As the game wore on our girls kept fighting and pressured their backs well."

The Bees (12-3-2, 9-0 TSC) remained undefeated in Sun Conference play and clinched at least a share of the regular-season title, as well as the right to host the semifinals and finals of the conference tournament. The Sand Sharks (5-11-1, 5-4) are tied with St. Thomas for third in the conference with 15 points and can clinch a spot in the six-team conference tournament with a win in their regular-season finale at Thomas on Saturday. 

"Although this was not the result we wanted, our performance has come a long way in conference play," Heberling said. "We have a huge game on Saturday. We need to come out ready to play like we did tonight."