OMAHA, Neb. – The smiles on the faces of Jenna Brown and Grace Corrigan told the story.

But when you learn their entire story, you understand how deeply they deserved to stand in the spotlight late Wednesday afternoon at the College of Saint Mary soccer complex: Three shoulder surgeries for Brown. Season-ending knee surgery for a torn ACL last season for Corrigan.

Corrigan scored her first collegiate goal in the 76^th minute off a corner kick from Jimena Estrada Gomez, and Brown recorded her first career clean sheet while making 16 saves as the Flames upset perennial power Hastings College 1-0 in Great Plains Athletic Conference soccer.

"This is a massive win,'' CSM Coach Jamison Parkhill said. "We never backed down.''

Massive because it was the first varsity victory over Hastings in program history. Dating back to 2006, CSM had lost 15 straight to the Broncos before forging a 2-2 tie last season.

But Wednesday's landmark triumph was even sweeter. Starting the season 1-6-0, CSM is now 5-9-0 overall and 4-3-0 in GPAC play after knocking off a program that has gone to the NAIA national tournament 10 of the last 12 seasons and 12 of the last 15.

College of Saint Mary did it despite being outshot 29-8, including an 18-5 disadvantage in shots on goal to a Bronco (9-3-2, 4-2-1) unit that received votes in the latest NAIA national poll.

"We said at the beginning of the match that it's going to be the team that outworks the other,'' Parkhill said. "In stretches they outworked us, but at the end of the day we got the goal and we finished it off like we needed to. That's what I'm super proud of.''

Facing a physically bigger and stronger team, CSM was on the defensive more often than not. But in the 76^th minute, the Flames found the only offense they'd need. Estrada Gomez rifled the ball into the box on a corner, where Corrigan, a sophomore out of Gretna High School, was waiting.

"It hit my upper chest and kind of rolled down me and I just kind of tapped it in,'' Corrigan said.

Corrigan played only six matches last season before the ACL tear in her left knee, and Wednesday was only her second match back this year.

"It's just super exciting that all of my work has paid off,'' she said. "Some days were definitely harder than others, but this makes it all worth it, for sure. I couldn't do it without my teammates, so I'm just super happy and proud of us.''

On the other end of the field, Brown was getting peppered throughout the day. The junior out of Omaha Westside stood firm and made several outstanding saves.

"The team has been behind me since the beginning, even when I wasn't playing at my best,'' she said. "They are what keeps me going every day. I was nervous, because I know what (Hastings) can bring to the table.''

Brown injured her shoulder twice in high school and again her freshman year at CSM, requiring the three surgeries. On Wednesday, she was in top form.

"She stopped a couple 1 v 1s and she collected some very dangerous balls out of the air,'' Parkhill said. "Having a goalkeeper that keeps you in matches is huge, especially in this league.''

Said assistant coach Ed Meitzen, who's in charge of the keepers: "It's really about the confidence piece. Whatever you want to say about goalkeeping, 98 percent of it is mental. If you're confident and you believe in yourself and you believe you can make the save, it's much easier to make the save.

"Today is just a really good example of believing in yourself and then getting it done.''

When the horn sounded, the Flames didn't realize they were the first CSM team to beat Hastings, but they certainly celebrated like it.

"It's a huge statement,'' Corrigan said. "What we're capable of is so much more than our record shows. I'm just super excited going forward.''

CSM returns to GPAC play Saturday with a 1 p.m. match at Morningside University.