EUGENE, Ore. – The coaches’ pick to win the Cascade Collegiate Conference got their CCC season off on the right foot on Friday night, holding the Northwest Christian University Beacons to just two shots-on-goal in a 1-0 victory.
NCU (3-5, 0-1 CCC) started off strong and played the role of aggressor for most of the first half. The Beacons had the first scoring opportunity of the game in the 22nd minute when Maddi Bartholomew’s blast from 25-yards out was tipped by the keeper, clanging off the crossbar and remaining in play. Little did the Beacons know that it would be their only solid chance at finding the net all evening.
The Beacons had owned a 3-2 lead in shot attempts over the first 45 minutes and had both of their shots-on-goal in the period. Carroll put on the accelerator in the second half, owning a 9-2 edge in shots while peppering NCU’s Mackenzie Galick with three more shots-on-goal.
The decisive blow came just seven minutes into the back stanza when a Taryn Neameyer cross found Michalea Kueffler for the game-winner.
Jamie Carter picked up the shutout for the Fighting Saints (4-3, 1-0), currently ranked No. 23 in the NAIA.
Northwest Christian returns to action on Saturday, playing host to the University of Great Falls who fell to Corban in Salem on Friday, 2-1. Meanwhile, Carroll travels up to face Corban with both games slated for 4 pm kickoffs.