ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Madison Speer broke a scoreless tie in the 61st minute to lift Luther College to a 1-0 victory over Denison on Saturday afternoon at Francis Field on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

The opening period was a feeling out process for both teams. The Norse held a slim 4-3 edge in shots, but it was the Big Red that registered the lone shot on frame in the first 45 minutes of play. That shot on goal came from DU senior and St. Louis native Meg Sutter who unloaded an attempt on frame that was corralled by Luther keeper Lauren Thormodsgard in the 43rd minute.

The Big Red started the second half quickly, registering a shot on goal in the first two and a half minutes off the foot of junior defender Allison Vilsack. The Norse answered by attempting eight-straight shots, with the one being Speer's goal. After a Denison foul roughly 35 yards away from the DU goal, Speer sent a high arcing shot from the right side that went just under the cross bar for her third score of the year. Denison had a few runs late in the match, but could only generate one shot down the stretch.

Luther outshot the Big Red 12-5 while earning all six corner kicks. Both teams committed six fouls and the Norse were flagged offsides, three times. Denison goalie Jenny Herold made five saves, while her counterpart, Thormodsgard, recorded two stops.

With the win, Luther (13-2-3) advances to the second round of the 2016 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament where they will play host Washington University, who defeated Knox College 3-0 in the first match of the day. Denison closes out the season with a 10-6-4 record.