Phoenix, Ariz. – Eight is the magic number for Carroll College from Helena, Montana – the Fighting Saints have eight seniors who scored half of their eight goals plus three assists in an 8-0 victory against Arizona Christian University, Saturday, Oct. 15, at Rose Mofford Sports Complex in Phoenix.  ACU’s record fell to 3-7-0, while Carroll improved to 7-3-1.

 

With 14 seniors and juniors, it became obvious by the way Carroll passed the ball and made their runs that they had played together for several seasons.  ACU fields eight freshman and two sophomores and no seniors.

 

Freshman forward Chelsea Ruland (Tucson, Ariz./Pusch Ridge Christian Academy) attempted ACU’s only shot on goal in the second half.  The high-scoring forward, who scored a school single-match record of 5 goals in ACU’s 6-5 win over Bethesda in its match earlier in the week, leads ACU with 9 goals and 3 assists, 38 shots and 26 shots on goal.  She drew a constant shadow from Carroll when she received the ball and was given little room to operate.

 

Meanwhile, Carroll totaled 32 shots, 23 on goal and scored four goals in each half.  Carroll also led 6-1 in corner kicks and was whistled for 10 offsides violations.  ACU’s freshman goalkeeper Kimberly Arias-Castro (Tolleson, Ariz./La Joya Community H.S.) saved a season-high 15 shots and has saved 103 shots in 10 matches this season with 10 or more saves in six matches.  Carroll’s goalkeeping tandem of Erin Volz and Briana Carlin was tested just once.

 

Senior forward Molly Clark scored Carroll’s first two goals at 3:10 and 14:43 of the first half and assisted on the fourth goal, by Laura Maddock, at 27:54.  Senior midfielder Tayt Ellison assisted on Clark’s first goal and scored the Saints’ sixth goal.  Ellison and senior Meghan O’Connell each attempted five shots overall and four shots on goal, and O’Connell capped the scoring with a penalty kick at 72:55 of the second half.  Sophomore Christa Saur scored Carroll’s fifth goal and assisted on the sixth, by Ellison, at 64:16.  Carroll’s last three goals occurred in a span of just under nine minutes.