ABOVE: Madison Pluim makes a run down the right wing looking for options in the box against Albert Lea on Saturday at Jeffery Kot Fields on Saturday in Fairmont.

FAIRMONT — Securing a 1-0 victory off the foot of Grace Simpson, the Fairmont Cardinals shut out the Albert Lea Tigers in a nonconference girls soccer game on Saturday.

Simpson scored on an early free kick that beat the Tigers’ goalkeeper to the upper-left-hand corner less than a minute into the game.

The goal came 50 seconds into the first half and it was a defensive battle from there on out with neither team willing to give an inch.

This was a very physical game for the teams involved but despite the low score, ball control favored Fairmont. Challenging some of the younger players who have not seen this type of play just yet acted as a solid orientation as to how to handle a more physical team.

“I thought they dealt with it fine. My main emphasis was you got to see what the ref’s calling,” Fairmont girls soccer head coach Matt Nielsen said. “You never know when the tide’s going to turn and we get the negative calls, so I really had them on a short leash in terms of no retaliation, no talk-back, just get up. So, I thought they did a good job of handling that. I really thought that we controlled the game.”

Albert Lea had two shots on goal and five saves. The Fairmont Cardinals managed a solid six shots on goal, with goalkeeper Mary Bennett making two crucial saves in the final moments of the game to secure the 1-0 victory and move the Cardinals’ record to 2-0 on the season.

“They were always following, shifting the line, holding the line,” Fairmont goalkeeper Maru Benett said. “We did a great job getting a lot of offsides in this game. It was also really stressful because there were a couple good shots they had, but we were able to keep them out.”

Fairmont managed five shots on goal after that early free kick but the persistent speed and physicality of the Tigers, combined with a solid goalkeeper, shut down the Cardinals’ ability to score.

Fairmont hosts New Ulm on Tuesday night.