HELENA, Mont. – The Carroll College women's soccer team closes out the regular season this week with a pair of matches at Nelson Stadium. Thursday the Saints host Oregon Tech and Friday Carroll meets Southern Oregon what could be a battle of Cascade Conference unbeatens.
 
The two matches are the first on the pitch at Nelson since the Saints hosted Warner Pacific on Sept. 23. Since that time the Saints have gone 3-0-2 with both ties coming last weekend in rainy conditions in Western Washington.
 
"We've been on the road for close to a month," head coach David Thorvilson said. "We are excited to get to play a home match at Nelson Stadium and be part of a big weekend at Carroll.  Right now we are excited to not play in the rain. Health wise we are mentally tired between travel, class work and recovery from some tough matches. The chance to play in front of our home crowd should energize us and have us ready for our matches."
 
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jamie Carter is having another stellar season with eight shutouts and Michaela Kueffler leads the Saints with eight goals and three assists.
 
The Saints open the Weekend with Oregon Tech, the Owls are 3-10-1 on the year and 1-5-1 in Cascade Conference play. Cassidy Gosvener leads OIT with four goals on the season. Jodie Reoch has a team-high five assists and Megan Green is the starting goalkeeper for the Owls.
 
Although SOU has struggled early, Thorvilson believes they are a skilled team that presents a challenge for the Saints.
 
"Coach (Brandon) Porter is in his second year and they are beginning to find their feet," Thorvilson said. "I am hoping that a long road trip won't have them as quite as excited to play us. They are pretty organized and offensively they move the ball pretty well. They create chances, they just haven't finished with the ball in the final third."
 
If the Saints can weather the Oregon Tech attack, Carroll will be undefeated in a match against the 7-0-0 Raiders. SOU has yet to give up a goal in their first seven games of conference play.  
 
"Southern Oregon is having a tremendous season," Thovilson said. "They have given up very few goals this season and none in conference. I thought last year that Southern was one of the better teams in our conference, they just weren't able to score goals, this year they've figured it out. I think all-around they are very athletic front to back. They limit opportunities up top for opposing teams to attack."
 
Starting goalkeeper Kylie Moltzen has eight shutouts on the season and Megan McArthur has a team-high nine goals to lead the Raiders.
 
Even with a Carroll win, Southern Oregon controls its own destiny for the conference title. With a Carroll win Friday, the Saints would need another SOU loss or a pair of draws in the Raiders' final three games to earn their second-consecutive title. The Saints would finish no worse than second however.
 
Friday's game will be the final for eight seniors that have had a stellar career at Carroll. The group includes two-time conference player the year in Carter and Carroll's leading scorer, Kueffler.
 
"It is an emotional weekend to play your last games at home," Thorvilson said. "We have eight tremendous ladies that have represented Carroll College to the highest standards over their careers. The majority of this group has started since their sophomore year and has continued a tradition of strong women's soccer at Carroll College."
 
Both games are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Nelson Stadium.  It is youth soccer weekend. Any youth soccer player eighth grade and under will get free attendance into both men's and women's games when wearing their jerseys. The games will be live streamed via the Carroll Athletics youtube channel.