HELENA, Mont. – Michaela Kueffler and Payton Netz each scored goals as Carroll College women's soccer closed out non-conference play with a 2-0 win over NCAA DIII Whitworth University Sunday at Nelson Stadium.
 
The Saints outshot the pirates a 16-8, including 11-2 in the first half and controlled possession for nearly the entire match. Carroll also had eight shots on goal to the Pirates six.
 
"We are getting a lot of opportunities; we are just a little anxious in front of the net," head coach David Thorvilson said. "We spent a lot of time this week working on pattern of play and finishing and I think it paid off a little bit today. We need to continue to focus on being more dangerous with our opportunities."
 
The Saints got on the board in the 26th minute when Kueffler received the ball in the middle of the field and drove. She beat her defender left and sent the ball far-post to score her second goal of the year.
 
The Saints went into the half up 1-0.
 
Early in the second half, the Saints would notch another goal. In the 51st Minute, Netz dribbled the ball up the field to the right of the goal and, like Kueffler in the first half, sent the ball across the face of the goalkeeper to the far post to score her third goal of the season.
 
The Saints would survive a late surge from the Pirates with a few great saves from goalkeeper Jamie Carter who notched her second shutout in as many games.
 
Kueffler and Netz lead the Saints in goal scoring and Thorvilson hopes they continue to get the ball into the back of the net.  
 
"I hope get goals from everyone on our front line," Thorvilson said. "But if those two continue to score, it is going to bode well for us."
 
Carroll closes out non-conference play 3-3 and despite some struggles, the Saints won two-straight and Thorvilson feels like his team is right where they need to be.
 
"The last six games were all about getting us ready to start conference play next week and through the rest of the year," Thorvilson said. "We played a very difficult non-conference schedule and we are very excited about the potential that this team has going into conference. We're are starting to figure it out on the defensive side and starting to get better looks at the goa. That is ultimately what we want as we go into conference play."
 
The campaign to defend the Cascade Conference crown begins Friday in Eugene, Ore., at Norwest Christian.