ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Mirandi Nirchi's goal in the 68th minute proved to be the difference in Lewis University's women's soccer team's 1-0 win over No. 24 Drury on Friday evening at Lewis Stadium. The Flyers improve to 8-3-2, 6-3-2 GLVC while the Panthers drop to 10-3-1, 8-2-1 GLVC.

The game started out fast-paced with both Cali Havelka-Vanderplow (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale South) and Melisa Hadzic (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) having scoring opportunities within the first two minutes of the game. Hadzic's shot was saved by Drury's goalkeeper while Havellka-Vanderplow's went over the top of the goal.

The Panthers answered those attempts with their own starting in the 11th minute but would come up empty as Lucy Clark (Bristol, England) had three saves in the first half.

The half continued to go back-and-forth between the teams but remained scoreless at halftime. Lewis had six shots in the first 45 minutes to five for the Panthers.

The second half started slow until the 50th minute when Drury had a scoring opportunity that went out left of the goal. It had another opportunity in the 58th minute that was saved by Clark.

Lewis broke the scoreless deadlock with 22 minutes and change remaining. Havelka-Vanderplow drove down the left flank and crossed the ball across the box to Nirchi who was able to redirect it inside the back post. It was Nirchi's first goal of the season and her first game-winner as a member of the Flyers.

Lewis' defense held off the Panthers stopping two potential scoring opportunities in the final 20 minutes to secure the victory.

The Flyers ended the game with nine shots total with Hadzic and Havelka-Vanderplow putting up three each followed by Nirchi with two and Elisa Aguilar (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) with one. Clark made four saves in goal to pick up her seventh shutout of the season.

The win moved Lewis into a tie for fourth with Indianapolis at 20 points in the race for a spot in the GLVC Tournament.

The Flyers play their final home game of the regular season on Sunday (Oct. 24) hosting Southwest Baptist at 12 p.m. Lewis will honor its five seniors prior to the start of Sunday's contest.