BILLINGS, Mont. – The Carroll College women's soccer team fell in a shoot out to Rocky Mountain in the semifinals of the NAIA Unaffiliated Tournament in Billings Friday.

The most important factor in the game wasn't a player or a coach, it was the wind.

Whichever team had the win in their favor gained control of the ball. When the Saints had the wind at their backs they outshot Rocky Mountain 8-2. When the Bears had the wind they outshot Carroll 5-3.

After 90 minutes of regulation and two ten-minute overtimes neither team could score a goal and the match went into a shoot-out.

Rocky Mountain goalkeeper Missy Schultz saved two  of the four shots she faced and the Bears advanced to the championship match.

"Today's match pitted two very good teams against each other and it took a penalty shootout to find a winner," head coach Dave Thorvilson said.  "This year both of our games against Rocky in Billings ended in 0-0 ties and in total we played 310 minutes of soccer and did not concede a goal."

Although disappointed in the final outcome, Thorvilson takes pride a season in which the Saints ended with a 12-3-4 record.

"PK's are always a difficult way to end the season but I am very proud our team," Thorvilson said. "I am happy with the way we played today and the success we found this season." 

The Saints will be veteran laden team next season there, there are 10 juniors on this year's squad but three big pieces of this Saints team played their last match in a Carroll uniform today. Seniors Kelli Lessmeier, Tessa Neameyer and Briana Carlin will all graduate in the spring.

"We said goodbye to three tremendous seniors today," Thorvilson said. "We hope them success in life and thank them for their contributions to Carroll College and being part of the Saints family and the soccer team."