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Feature photo: Senior Emily Funseth dribbling against a Warner Pacific opponent on Friday, Sept. 22. Photo credits Carroll Athletics.
On Friday, Sept. 22, the Carroll College women’s soccer team defeated Warner Pacific University for their sixth win of the season.
The Fighting Saints have started the season exceptionally strong with three conference wins and an impressive victory, and a hard-fought tie, over two NCAA Division ll opponents.
The Saint’s fast start to the season has been fueled by the youthful starting 11.
“The majority of our team is made up of 18 freshmen and sophomores, but under the leadership of a strong senior class, we’re finding creativity and excitement with our younger players,” said head coach David Thorvilson.
On Friday night, the Saints battled the elements, playing through a cold September downpour. In a hard-fought and tightly contested game, they managed to break the scoreless tie in the 69th minute.
After drawing a foul at the top of the Knight’s box, Emily Funseth, a senior sociology and criminology major from Great Falls, Montana, was given a penalty shot to put the Saints ahead. After burying the ball in the top right corner of the net, Carroll took a 1-0 lead.
“Taking PKs is always a lot of pressure, but it definitely shifted the momentum of the whole game. It motivated us to score another goal and win the game,” said Funseth.
To close out the half, the Saints found their final goal of the match in the last two minutes of the game.
Molly Molvig, a junior nursing major from Billings, Montana, would beat the Knight’s keeper to the right-hand side of the net on a Carroll breakaway to leave the game 2-0.
“It was a really good buildup out of the back. We were already ahead, but I was grateful for the opportunity from my teammates to secure the win,” said Molvig.
The Saints are beyond excited about the future of this team.
“We are very happy because we are still undefeated so far this season and have had only one goal scored against us,” said Myah Rietze, sophomore psych major from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. “Our Defense and offense have both been doing an amazing job!”
While the Lady Saints celebrated wins over three conference teams, they look forward to the rest of the season with great anticipation.
On Friday, Sept. 29, they face off against Bushnell University in Springfield, Oregon, and Corban University the following day in Salem, Oregon.
