ROCHESTER &045; Goalie Annie Berger and the Albert Lea defense kept Rochester Lourdes scoreless until late in regulation, when the home team netted the game’s only goal to claim a 1-0 nonconference girls’ soccer victory at Rochester Saturday.

&uot;I don’t know if we’ve ever beaten Rochester Lourdes before,&uot; said Tigers coach Paul Marka. &uot;I think this was probably the closest we’ve ever come. I was real proud of the girls. They played real hard.&uot;

While most of the play was in the midfield in what Marka called an exciting, fast-paced game, the Eagles outshot the Tigers 22-7. Berger, a sophomore first-year starter replacing all-conference goalie Liz Reynen, stopped 21 of them including five that Marka said were &uot;real tough shots.&uot;

The defense, meanwhile, played really tough in front of Berger. Marka mentioned Kendra Olchefske, Anna Sigurdson, Brianne Plantage, Katie Dooley, Mary Cook and Chelsey Schumaker.

The game was 0-0 until Lourdes scored with about two minutes remaining.

&uot;The defense played outstanding,&uot; said Marka. &uot;Rochester Lourdes is a very skilled team, and we stayed with them.&uot;

The Tigers face Mankato West in their Big Nine Conference and home opener tonight at 7 p.m. at Hammer Field.

(Contact Jim Lutgens at sports @albertleatribune.com or 379-3437.)