Box Score Alexis Long could not have picked a better time to score her first collegiate goal.

The freshman midfielder struck on a header in the 81st minute to give Colorado College a nerve-wracking 1-0 victory over UAB on a perfect Sunday afternoon at Stewart Field.

“It was amazing, but there is no way I could have it done it without my teammates,” Long said. “We were focused on putting Friday's loss to Memphis behind us and starting a new winning streak.”

Despite an 18-9 advantage in total shots and an 8-4 edge in shots on goal, the Tigers found it difficult to put one past freshman goalkeeper Courtnie Northern, who finished with seven saves.

“Credit to UAB,” head coach Geoff Bennett said. “They played us hard for 90 minutes. I told their coaches after the game that not many opponents play that hard on Sunday here.”

Long's first career game winner came off senior forward Brittney Lyman's cross from just outside the right edge of the box. Lyman's assist was her team-leading sixth of the season and the second time she set up the game-winning goal this year.

Lyman's point also was the 53rd of her career, which ties her for 11th place on CC's all-time list with Karen Willoughby (1985-88).

Senior goalkeeper Hanna Berglund stopped four shots en route to her second shutout of the season and the 11th of her career. Seven of those blankings have been by 1-0 scores.

Her best save occurred in the 70th minute when she came off her line to deny Emma Jane Smith after the senior midfielder worked her way through the Tiger defense near the top of the box.

At the other end of the pitch, Northern was under constant pressure from the outset. She made a diving save on senior midfielder Hannah Peterson's shot just 1:11 into the contest and on a header by Lyman nearly nine minutes into the second half.

CC nearly took the lead in the 73rd minute, but junior midfielder Madison Whitehead's direct kick from 25 yards out went off the crossbar.

“We had a lot of chances, a lot of good looks,” Bennett said. “We fought our way through it and got a win on a day when one goal on a counter could have been the difference. We'll take the three points and move on.”

The Tigers improved to 8-3-4 overall and 3-2-1 in Conference USA. The Blazers slipped to 2-12-0 overall and 1-5-0 in league play.

Colorado College plays its final home games of the 2012 campaign next week when No. 8 UCF and Southern Miss visit Stewart Field on Friday and Sunday, respectively.