Senior forward Julia Saenz had to improvise to score her team-leading ninth goal and lift St. Mary’s past non-conference Class 3A opponent Holy Family 1-0 Monday afternoon at the Grace Center.Saenz wasn’t prepared for a pass from Christina Whitelaw but managed to make the most of one of her team’s few chances in blustery conditions.”The ball hit the back of my heel and I wasn’t really paying attention,” Saenz said. “Usually I can chip it over goalies, but I kicked it under and it went in.”It was only the fourth goal Tigers keeper Erika Binyua has allowed this season. Her five saves were a bright spot for a defense that coach Joshua Craver said wasn’t playing to its potential.”They’re a quality team and I give all the credit to them for capitalizing on our mistakes,” Craver said. “Erika’s come a long way, but you can only take so much before you break down.”Less than 3 minutes after scoring, Saenz aggravated a sore right ankle injured during the basketball season. She was helped off the field. She is questionable for today’s Tri-Peaks game in Buena Vista.Pirates goalkeeper Katie Loof shut out the Tigers (3-1-1) with 11 saves despite a stiff wind blowing in her face during the second half.St. Mary’s coach Gregg Braha was proud of the way the Pirates (4-2) played in the wind.”I thought we battled well through really tough conditions and I told the girls they should have been ecstatic to be scoreless at the half,” Braha said.CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0250 or sports@gazettedev.gazette.com

St Mary’s midfielder Lauren Kuklenski , left, wins control of the ball over Holy Family High School’s Heidi Hanson in the first half of St Mary’s 1-0 win Monday. Photo by