HAMILTON — If nothing else, the Steinert High girls soccer side has been very consistent this season. As a general rule, in game after game the Spartans have played solid defense and shown the ability to effectivley work passing combinations. And in game after the game Steinert has had trouble scoring. It was more of the same on Saturday morning in Steinert’s 1-0 triumph over Nottingham in a Colonial Valley Conference Tournament opening-round game. Although Steinert (7-8-2) dominated play and piled up a staggering 23-4 advantage in shots at goal, it was unable to score until Mia Garofalo blasted home a shot from point-blank range with a scant :26 remaining in regulation. With the victory Steinert advanced to play at top-seeded Hopewell Valley on Monday. “Ella (Tamagno) crossed the ball,” said Garofaolo of her fourth and biggest goal so far this season. “The ball went to Reilly (Klein) but I called her off. When it got to me I just let it rip.” And what of the fact Steinert (7-8-2) has scored just nine  goals in its last 15 games. “It was frustrating (not scoring until the end), but it’s been like this all year long, said Garofalo. No one, of course, has been more aware of Steinert’s scoring woes than coach Mike Hastings. “It’s been an issue all season,” he said. “We play good soccer in two thirds of the field, but we have trouble finishing. And when you don’t score goals any little mistake you make gets magnified.” Steinert nearly scored much earlier when Klein blasted a shot off the post at the start of the second half, but to its credit Nottingham’s defense held firm. Truth be told, Steinert may have gotten off 23 shots, but very few of them required a quality save by Northstar keeper Ava McDonald. At the other end of the field, Steinert was even more in control with Mia Petracca recording the clean sheet. One key to holding Nottingham scoreless for the second time this year was putting the clamps on Bridget Cutty. She came into the game with 16 goals, but on this day Cutty was limited to a more defensive role in midfield. “We’ve had trouble scoring, but we’ve got good kids who work very hard,” said Hastings. “Today we found a way to win. In tournament play winning is all that really matters.” With Nottingham out of the way, it was time to start looking ahead to Monday’s game against Hopewell. Considering Steinert lost to Hopewell Valley, 1-0, in the middle of September, another very competitive game between the two is certainly a possibility. What isn’t so sure is the matter of whether Steinert will score. Nottingham (8-9) 0 0 — 0 Steinert (7-8-2) 0 1 —  1 Goals: Garofalo. Assists: Tamagno. Shots: N-4, S-23. Saves: N-McDonald 12. S-Petracca 3.