By The Carroll College Women’s Soccer team’s season came to a disheartening end on Sunday in Medford, Oregon, during the Cascade Conference Championship quarterfinals.
The Fighting Saints battled through 107 intense minutes before falling to the Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears 0-1 in double overtime.
The match showcased the Fighting Saints’ aggressive style right from kick off, as they strung together combos to generate five shots in the opening 18 minutes. Despite their early dominance, the half concluded in a deadlock, 0-0, both sides eager to find the net.
The intensity only escalated in the second half, with both teams matching each other shot for shot. Each side recorded eight attempts, but the goalies on both ends kept the goal count unchanged.
“All I can say is how proud of my team I am,” remarked junior forward Deanna Lord, Education major. “Maria [Ackerman] couldn’t have played any better.” Ackerman’s performance in goal kept the Fighting Saints alive through the entirety of the game, ending with six saves.
It was the 107th minute when Rocky Mountain College’s Emma Lensing connected with a cross from teammate Charlize Davis, ending the double overtime battle and the Fighting Saints’ season.
The final statistics reflected the evenly matched nature of the contest, with both teams recording 15 shot attempts each. The Battlin’ Bears (9-5-2) managed to put seven shots on goal compared to the Saints’ (10-5-4) four, in what proved to be the slight edge needed to advance in the tournament.
This match marked the conclusion of a successful season for the Fighting Saints, who have continued to demonstrate their determination.
