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HELENA, Mont. – Early fireworks turned into a 3-3 draw for the (RV) Carroll Men's Soccer team against Dordt (Iowa) on Thursday evening under the lights on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.
 
It wasn't the start the Fighting Saints (0-0-1) had pictured for the 2026 season, as the Defenders (0-0-1) came out swinging. With a new coaching staff and little known about the first-time opponent, Dordt surprised everyone in the stadium right from the get-go.
 
Just 14 seconds into the new season, the Saints found themselves in a hole. Dordt took the first possession and pushed hard into the attacking third. One cross in from Boston Gerdes led to a lightning quick goal by Joseba Zabala on the first shot of the year.
 
Unphased, Carroll responded, and did so in a hurry.
 
Before anyone had time to process the game's opening goal, Enrico Paparelli (Sao Paulo, Brazil / R-JR) played a perfectly placed pass into Pedro Teixeira (Braga, Portugal / R-SR), who took care of business. Rivera chipped one over the Dordt keeper and into the top corner to knot things up at 1-1, all in the first minute.
 
An unforced turnover by the Defenders keeper saw Carroll's leading scorer, Felix Billard (Mallorco, Spain / SR) wind up with the ball all alone just outside the box. Making good on the gift, Billard buried one into the right side, giving the Saints their first lead of the year in the 21^st minute.
 
The goal was No. 27 in Billard's career, moving him within six of the program's career goals record held by Jose Porras.
 
Carroll appeared primed to carry their lead into the break, but a foul at the top of the box led to a free kick opportunity for the Defenders. Pablo Martin managed to beat Carroll keeper Noah Jordan (Deer Park, Wash. / JR), who made his first start as a Saint, in the top corner to level the match at 2-2 in the 41^st minute.
 
On the other side of the halftime break, Carroll grabbed its second lead of the evening.
In the 59^th minute Billard fired in a shot from the left side of the box. Billard's blast was saved by Dordt's Alvaro Boned, but the force of the attempt caused a lengthy rebound. Perfectly positioned towards the middle of the pitch, Pedro Rivera (Mexico City, Mexico / SO) put his first shot of the season into the net to give the Saints a 3-2 lead.
 
A defensive miscue just five minutes after Rivera's go-ahead goal would lead to the final score of the night, as Dordt's Ike D'Silva managed to beat Noah Jordan on a close play near the top of the box.
 
Tempers flared near the end of the match, leading to a red card shown to Dordt's Tomas Estrada with just over a minute remaining. While the Saints made one strong final push, no real scoring opportunity would present itself over the final 90 seconds.
 
"We've got a lot to work on." said Head Coach Austin Shick "Some good moments, and some bad moments. We're certainly looking to grow from this one and looking forward to next Friday to right some of the wrongs."
 
All said and done, the teams finished the evening nearly identical in total shots. Carroll put up 14 total shots, ten of which were on net, while the Defenders put up 13 shots with eight on goal.
 
Pedro Teixeira led Carroll with five shots, three on goal, and the first goal of the season.
 
Noah Jordan finished his Carroll debut with four saves on the evening, while Dordt's Boned stopped seven shots in the match.
 
Carroll will now have a full week to prepare for their next tilt. The Saints will host a non-conference match with Providence next Friday at 3 p.m. in Helena.

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