OMAHA, Neb. – Soccer, perhaps more than many sports, doesn't always provide the return on investment.

On Saturday, the College of Saint Mary felt that was the case. The Flames shined in plenty of areas yet dropped a 1-0 nonconference home decision to Tabor College on a gorgeous, sunny day at their complex.

CSM Coach Jamison Parkhill was asked if he felt his team deserved better.

"I definitely thought they did,'' he said. "I think this is probably the most complete game we've played, besides what the scoreline says. It's frustrating to play that well and end up on the losing end.''

Tabor (3-1-0) parlayed a corner kick from Raegan King in the 63^rd minute into victory. The kick clanged off the crossbar to Porsha Zweifel, who punched it in.

Despite outshooting the Bluejays 11-5, the Flames couldn't summon the equalizer and dropped to 1-5-0. Ella Klusman had five shots and Jimena Estrada Gomez added four, including three on goal.

"It deflated us,'' Parkhill said of Tabor's goal. "We just couldn't respond.

"I thought we built out of the back pretty well. We maintained possession fairly well. I think just what was missing was that little bit of cleverness, little bit of finishing touch in the final third.''

Parkhill was impressed by the defensive play of Aubrey Sharp off the bench.

"When she came in, she brought calmness to our back line,'' he said.

CSM didn't allow a shot in the first half, yet walked off the field an hour later without the result it was coveting.

"That just shows you how women's soccer is,'' Parkhill said. "I thought overall we played pretty well. We just didn't have that 'it' factor, somebody to step up in a big moment and get us over the hump.''

CSM has a long break of action before hosting Bellevue University on Sept. 17 at 3 p.m.