FREDERICK, Md.--Senior midfielder Tamara Maggard scored her third goal of the season in the 68th minute to lift the Hood College women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over visiting Goucher College Thursday afternoon at Thomas Athletic Field.

The win puts the Blazers, winners of four of their last five, over the .500 mark for the first time this season at 5-4-1, while Goucher drops to 2-7 on the year.

The Blazers dominated the first half offensively, putting steady pressure on Gopher goalkeeper Stephanie Ricketts. Hood outshot Goucher 18-7 in the first period but was unable to find the back of the net.

Then, midway through the second half, freshman defender Brittany Hurt launched a corner kick from the right side, which was headed in the box by freshman Whitney Boyer. After the ball caromed off a Gopher defender, Maggard stepped in and booted the ball high over the keeper's head. Maggard got a fortuitous bounce off the cross bar as the ball ricocheted straight down and the referees ruled it a goal, providing the only offense the Blazers would need.

Freshman goalie Nina Duron picked up her fifth shutout of the season while registering eight saves. In fact, all five of Hood's victories this season have come via a shutout.

Ricketts turned in a valiant performance in goal for the Gophers, stopping 18 shots.

Hood returns to action tomorrow, Oct. 6, hosting the Mary Baldwin College Fighting Squirrels at 4 p.m. at Thomas Athletic Field in an Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference game.