ASHLAND, Ore. – Carroll women's soccer earned its ninth shutout of the season and Caitlin Walter and Lexi Pyette each scored to lead Carroll to a 3-0 win over Southern Oregon Friday evening in Ashland.
 
Carroll scored three goals in just five shots, Walter opened the scoring with a goal in the 38th minute. SOU closed on one side of the field and the Saints turned the ball to Walter who streaked up the field and beat her opponent and sent the ball across the goalkeeper's face and into the net.
 
The score would hold until after halftime.
 
In the 61st minute, the Michaela Kueffler sent a rocket shot from 35 yards out. The shot would deflect off of the Raider goalkeeper right in front of Pyette, who sent the ball in for her sixth goal of season.
 
The final score of the game came on a Saints corner kick in the 81st minute. Cassidy Hammons sent the kick into the box and an SOU player misjudged the deflection and sent the ball into the goal to give the Saints a 3-0 lead.
 
SOU had chances, outshooting the Saints 8-3 but every Carroll shot was on frame and two of five scored.
 
"Our defense played really well against and organized team," head coach Dave Thorvilson said. "The shots that we did give up were from distance. Jamie (Carter) only really had to make one difficult save in the whole game. That is a big credit to our back line."
 
The win was essential as the Saints are still in position to earn a conference title with a loss by the College of Idaho.
 
"The big thing is that playing on the road can be difficult and their team limits chances so getting goals when we could was huge for us tonight," Thorvilson said.
 
The Saints close out Cascade Conference play tomorrow at Oregon Tech. With an 8-1-1 record, the Saints can earn a conference title and an automatic bid to the NAIA tournament but they will need some help from either Northwest or the University of Great Falls.
 
The College of Idaho (8-1) plays Northwest tomorrow and UGF in a make up, neutral site game in Hermiston, Ore., Monday. Two ties in those games or a loss in either one, coupled with a Carroll win Saturday gives the Saints the title.
 
The Saints take the field at Oregon Tech at 7 p.m.