LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant women's soccer team used another outstanding defensive effort and Rebekah Gravitt scored the lone tally in the first half as the Lady Scots defeated Maryville 1-0 at Scotland Yard on Wednesday night.

Covenant (11-2, 9-1 USA South) maintains the lead in the USA South West Division with the victory. The win means a season split with Maryville (6-6-1, 6-3-1 USA South) and avenges Covenant's only loss in league play this season. The win also snaps a winless skid against Maryville dating back to 2009.

The shutout was the fourth straight for Covenant. The Lady Scots have not allowed a goal in four matches in the month of October and have a streak of 384 consecutive shutout minutes dating back to a Sept. 30 match at Wesleyan.

In a battle between two of the top defensive teams in the USA South, Covenant took just seven shots but was able to find the back of the net in the 34th minute. Coming off a set piece from Andrea Hunt Roylston, Anna Porch headed the ball towards the net where Maryville keeper Mandy Marshall tipped the ball off the crossbar and Gravitt came in to clean up the ricochet giving Covenant a 1-0 lead.

The goal was Gravitt's fourth of the year and her second straight game-winner. Gravitt has also scored in three straight matches overall. Porch's assist was her team-leading seventh of the season.

In the second half, Maryville had chances to tie the match but was turned away both times. Maryville's Janelle Calhoun found herself one-on-one with Covenant keeper Rachel Lemay in the 62nd minute, but Lemay made a tremendous save on Calhoun's shot to preserve the lead. In the 86th minute, Miranda Lukas had her header hit the crossbar and bound away.

Lemay made one save on the night as she notches her sixth shutout of the year. The sophomore has allowed just five goals in 13 matches this season. Marshall collected one save for Maryville.

Maryville outshot Covenant 11-7, but the host Lady Scots held a 3-2 edge in corner kicks. Anna Robertson led Covenant with two shots.

UP NEXT

Covenant will host USA South foe Wesleyan on Friday. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Scotland Yard.

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