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UTICA, N.Y. -- Freshman McKayla Hughes scored the game's only goal and senior goalkeeper Hannah Miller made five saves as visiting Nazareth edged Utica, 1-0, Wednesday evening in a key Empire 8 women's soccer match at Gaetano Stadium.

Unbeaten in their last five games (4-0-1), the Golden Flyers improved to 9-3-2 overall and gained a temporary edge on first place in the Empire 8 Conference standings with a 4-0-2 mark. The Golden Flyers clinched a berth in the four-team Empire 8 Conference Tournament Nov. 6 and 9. It also marked the Golden Flyers' third straight shutout win and their seventh of the season overall. They've yielded just one goal in six conference games. Utica dropped to 8-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in E8 games.

Hughes' team-leading fourth goal of the season came in the 27th minute as she slid through the penalty area to redirect a crossing pass from fellow freshman Madison Knowles, who gained credit for the assist. Noelle Colilli started the play by dribbling up the left side and passing the ball to the middle for Danielle Christ, who spotted Knowles open on the left wing.

Nazareth spent much of the balance of the game warding off scoring chances by the Pioneers, whose lineup features the Empire 8's top scorer in Mikayla Blumenstock (15 goals, 31 points).

The Golden Flyers' defense -- featuring the likes of freshman Megan McCraith, junior Lauren Begy and seniors Noelle Colilli, Lindsie Farrance and Mia Strollo -- was equal to the challenge in keeping the Pioneers off the scoreboard. Blumenstock was able to generate four shots on goal -- all of which were saved by Miller.

Miller also utilized strong decision making to pick up her sixth shutout of the season while lowering her conference-best goals-against average to 0.64 nd raising her save percentage to .890. Her 22 career shutouts rank third all-time for a Nazareth goalkeeper.

The Golden Flyers have just two regular-season games remaining -- Sunday at non-conference foe Carnegie Mellon at 12 p.m. and home on Nov. 2 against St. John Fisher at 12 p.m.