FAIRMONT — Stingy goalkeeping proved the theme for the Fairmont Area girls soccer team’s regular-season finale against St. Paul Highland Park on Saturday at Kot Soccer Complex.

Freshman striker Seylon Versalles-Shiggs produced the non-league clash’s only goal off a Sonja Erickson assist to help the visiting Scots post a 1-0 victory over the Cardinals.

“She (Versalles-Shiggs) created space where there didn’t seem to be any at times, including the lone goal of the game,” said Fairmont Area head coach Matt Nielsen.

Erickson threaded a grass-hugging crossing pass to Versalles-Shiggs, who curled a top-shelf shot around a leaping Fairmont Area goalie Cadence Becker and into the left corner of the webbing at the 30:12 juncture of the opening half.

For the ensuing 70 minutes, Becker and Highland Park junior netminder Mariana Cournoyer denied every potential offensive opportunity to keep the game at 1-0.

Cournoyer turned away seven Cardinal shots — five in the second half — to garner her eighth shutout of the season. The Scots’ sure-handed keeper entered Saturday’s game with 138 saves and a miniscule goals-against average of 0.75.

Becker proved a more than worthy rival between the posts by turning away 15 Scots’ shots, including 10 during the first half. The Fairmont Area freshman phenom entered Saturday’s game with 87 saves and an equally impressive goals-against clip of 0.79.

“We both have good goalkeepers and it showed today,” said Nielsen. “Despite the loss, that’s the kind of competition you want to face to get ready for the sectional playoffs.”

Fairmont Area (12-2-2) earned the No. 3 seed in the Section 2A tournament and received a double-bye. The Cardinals play host to a sectional quarterfinal at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, against an opponent to be determined at Kot Soccer Complex.

Fairmont Area created three high-potential offensive chances — two during the first half, but just could not get the soccer ball by the sure-handed Cournoyer.

Isabelle Lenort struck a low liner just over the Scots’ five-player wall on a free-kick chance from the point that low-hopped Cournoyer, but the Highland Park goalie smothered it at the 14:59 mark of the first half.

Fairmont Area’s Joni Becker then generated a strong left-wing rush, sped by a Highland Park defender and lofted an 12-yard shot that just sailed over the cross bar with 11:22 remaining before intermission.

Cournoyer then saved her best stop for last as she anticipated Sami Lenort’s penalty kick at the 25:22 juncture of the second half. Lenort drilled a shot just inside the right post that Cournoyer leaped and caught to maintain her shutout bid.

St. Paul Highland Park (10-5-1) faces Washington Technology Magnet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Highland Park 1-0–1

Fairmont Area 0-0–0

Scoring Plays

1st Half

HP–Seylon Versalles-Shiggs (Sonja Erickson), 30:12.

2nd Half

No scoring.

Shots on goal: Highland Park 10-5–15; Fairmont Area 2-5–7. Corners: Fairmont Area 2; Highland Park 0.

Saves: Cadence Becker (FA) 9-5–14; Mariana Cournoyer (HP) 2-5–7.

Ellie Schultze produced one goal and one assist to help guide Fairmont Area to a 2-0 victory over St. Paul Highland Park during the Cardinal junior varsity’s season finale on Saturday.

Schultze converted Savanah Baker’s assist into the Cardinals’ first goal before Schultze set up Tegan Roskop’s goal.

Fairmont Area posted a perfect 3-0 record to take first-place honors at the Mankato East C-squad tournament on Saturday.

Allison Janssen collected two goals and two assists to power Fairmont Area to an opening 5-3 victory over Mankato West.

Anna Utermarck contributed one goal and two assists to the Cardinals’ Game 1 win, while Alysen Lindquist and Emma Scheppmann supplied one goal apiece.

Goalkeeper Abby Cihoski made six saves to net the win for Fairmont Area.

Elayna Anderson tallied the second-round game’s only goal to propel Fairmont Area to a 1-0 shutout over St. Peter.

Anderson converted Janssen’s assist into the lone goal, while Madi Stromberg and Cihoski tallied four and two saves, respectively, to combine for the shutout.

Madi Hofer and Anderson each delivered one goal and one assist to steer Fairmont Area to a 4-1 decision over Worthington during third-round action.

Kate Busche and Lindquist each scored goals, while Scheppmann and Utermarck each doled out one assist for the Cardinals.

Hannah Bergt turned away six shots between the pipes for Fairmont Area.