HELENA, Mont. – Since Carroll joined the Cascade Conference a season ago, the Saints women's soccer team has played Eastern Oregon three times and each time the game has gone to double overtime. The final was the Thursday at Nelson Stadium as the two teams battled to 0-0 draw after 110 minutes of soccer.
 
It was tied in the score and nearly equally on the stat sheet. The two teams each tallied 12 shots, although EOU had seven shots on goal to the Saints' three.
 
Not included in the three shots on goal were two Carroll shots that nearly gave Carroll the advantage.
 
In the first half, a shot by Talya Vaira in the 30th minute was just high, it looked like the Saints would get a chance on a rebound but the ball careened off the football goalpost and was ruled out.
 
In the second half both teams had chances.
 
In the 75th minute, Ylena Gazdik received a back pass and one-touched before she blasted a ball and it hit the crossbar from 25-yards out, just inches from a goal.
 
Eastern Oregon had their best chance in the 85th minute. An EOU player got the ball in space in front of the goal and looked to be in great position but was called offsides.
 
The overtimes were also a battle, the two teams each notched a shot on goal but there was neither was close to scoring and the game ended in a scoreless draw.
 
"You hate to tie," head coach Dave Thorvilson said. "There were two very good teams on the field today. We each had some good looks and some good opportunities. Neither of us were willing to break defensively."
 
The Saints are now 5-3-1 on the season, including 2-0-1 in Cascade Conference play. Carroll is back on the pitch at Nelson Stadium Friday against Warner Pacific at 4 p.m.