ST. LOUIS Hailey Beam readily gives most of the credit for her goal-scoring prowess to her teammates. Sometimes luck has a bit to do with it, too.

Beam scored with just under 10 minutes left in the first half to lead the Charlotte women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory against Dayton in the Atlantic 10 tournament championship game Sunday at Saint Louis University. The victory clinched a berth in the NCAA tournament, which will start this week, and secured a perfect record against league opponents this year.

“Yes, I'd say that was one of the easier goals,” said Beam, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player. “I definitely didn't think it was going in the goal. I was just hitting it across the goal, but it turned out good.”

Katie Davies' flip throw-in came down about 6 yards from Dayton's goal. The ball got knocked around, including a header from Beam, who got a second chance facing the goal. She said she headed it toward the goal hoping a teammate would get a foot on it.

Coach Jon Lipsitz, who earned his 100th victory, had more faith in Beam's ability.

“Hailey is one of the premier players in the country,” he said. “She finds a way. As soon as the ball popped up in the air and I saw Hailey turn and face the goal, I knew it was a goal.”

It was one of just two shots on goal from the 49ers and one of six overall. In contrast, Dayton (15-6-1) took 21 shots, forcing Charlotte keeper Lauren Brown to make 12 saves.

The vast majority of the play was in Charlotte's half throughout. The 49ers also kept up to five players on defense during the second half, bogging down the Flyers' offense. Brown said after Beam scored her 17th goal of the season, she knew Charlotte (17-3-1) had the game under control.

“We prided ourselves on defense and we were going to get out of here with a shutout,” she said.

The 49ers won their second consecutive tournament and third straight regular-season title.