HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll Women's Soccer team made a valiant effort at a comeback against No. 5 College of Idaho, but ran out of time in a tight 2-1 loss on Saturday on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

After a sloppy first 20 minutes, the Fighting Saints (3-4-4, 1-4-2) turned up the intensity, pushing the No. 5-ranked Yotes (10-1, 7-0) to the edge in a competitive bout in tough conditions.

From the first touch, College of Idaho looked sharp. The Yotes lit up the scoreboard early, as Shaelyn Olsen nudged one into the net off of a corner kick from Gianna Yslava in just the fourth minute to go up 1-0.

College of Idaho proceeded to outshoot Carroll 9-1 in the frame, but the Saints would hold steady to trail by just one heading into the break.

Coming out of the break, Abbi Roubidoux managed to double the CI advantage in the 62nd minute, but Carroll wouldn't fold.

Carroll played some of its best soccer over the past several weeks in the second half, upping the pressure and taking the fight to the Yotes.

The Saints cut the lead to one in the 70th minute, scoring on a corner kick set piece of their own. Hayley Smith (Woods Cross, Utah / JR) scored her third goal of the season, beating the keeper on the back post off an assist from Deanna Lord (Cave Creek, Ariz. / SR).

Carroll continued to press for the final 20, but simply couldn't find an equalizer en route to the 2-1 loss.

Goalkeeper Maria Ackerman (Billings, Mont. / JR) finished with seven saves on 21 total College of Idaho shots.

A quick trip up the road to Great Falls awaits Carroll on Thursday, as they take on Providence at 1 p.m.