LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A converted penalty kick in the 69th minute was enough to propel Bellarmine past the University of Illinois Springfield women's soccer team, 1-0, Friday evening at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

After a scoreless 68 minutes, the Knights earned a penalty kick, which Bellarmine's Emily Hollander made to give the hosts a 1-0 lead and the game.

From the first whistle, neither keeper was really tested as the first shot-on-goal didn't come until the 39th minute from the Prairie Stars' Ashley Surface (Alto Loma, Calif.). It was UIS's lone shot of the half. Bellarmine created scoring chances in the early going but failed to shot in the final 24 minutes of the period.

In the second half, the Knight's ramped up the pressure, loosing shots in the 47th, 51st and 53rd minutes. Junior goalkeeper Paige Polonus (Plainfield, Ill.) was steady, grabbing her first save at the 50:30 mark. The hosts nearly took the lead in the 59th minute but Mary Beth Gorham's shot hit the crossbar.

Bellarmine eventually found the breakthrough in the 69th minute after a Prairie Stars' foul resulted in a penalty shot for the hosts, which wound up being the game-winner.

UIS threatened to equalize with a late scoring chance from freshman midfielder Alysa Manwill (St. Louis, Mo.), but her shot was stopped by Bellarmine keeper Hannah Poteet.

The Prairie Stars are back in action at Kiwanis Stadium on Sunday against Southern Indiana for senior day. Game time is set for 12 p.m.