HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll College Women's Soccer team picked up win No. 1 on the season, blanking Northwestern (Iowa) 2-0 on Saturday at Nelson Stadium in Helena.

The Fighting Saints (1-0-0) gave a large contingency of fans at Nelson Stadium plenty to cheer about in their home opener on Saturday, shutting out Northwestern (0-2-0).

Shots, shots, and more shots. That was the story of the game for the Saints.

The pitch felt tilted towards the Northwestern goal at times throughout the first half. Carroll kept heavy pressure on the Raiders, and kept possession for seemingly the entire first half.

Carroll put up a staggering 22 shots in the first half of the game, a number made even more appalling given their counterparts had zero in the period. Of the 22 first half shots thrown at the net, 12 were shots on goal.

Unfortunately for the Saints, nearly every single shot on goal was directed straight to the Northwestern keeper, Abby Bastian. Bastian rarely had to move to defend the barrage of first half opportunities, and remarkably the game would enter the break tied at 0-0

Northwestern came out of halftime with purpose, putting up their first shot of the game, and the first attempt from either team, in the 51st minute.

In the 60th minute, Emily Funseth (Great Falls, Mont. / SR) would line up for a free kick just outside of the box. The senior leader would blast a shot over the wall of defenders and into the back-left corner of the net to finally give Carroll a 1-0 advantage.

In the 71st minute Carroll would find an insurance goal. Jaymee Sheridan (Helena, Mont. / JR) would beat the Raider keeper, and provide a buffer for her team, 2-0.

The two-goal lead would not be relinquished, and Carroll would pick up the shut out victory on their home pitch.

Freshman Delaney Moczan (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / FR) put five shots on goal in the match, but was unable to find the net.

Maria Ackerman (Billings, Mont. / FR) earned the shutout in her first collegiate start. While her day may not have been action-packed (2 saves), the freshman blocked a terrific corner kick attempt up-and-over the crossbar that would have provided the Raiders with an equalizer.

The Saints will have a week to prepare for their next game, a Labor Day contest with Providence at 1 p.m. in Helena.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of that match, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.