By CURT SYNNESS
Helena Independent RecordAs the Carroll College soccer team celebrated its Frontier
Conference championship on Nelson Stadium's pitch after a 5-0
victory over Westminster College, senior goalkeeper Katie Beall
stated the team's next mission.
"We want to take Dallas," proclaimed Beall, a Capital High alum,
referring to the upcoming unaffiliated regional tournament in
Texas.
Five different Saints shook the net in the offensive onslaught
Saturday, with their top two scorers kicking off the salvo.
Sophomore Meghan O'Connell, who leads the conference with 14 goals,
put one between the pipes in the sixth minute.
Senior Hannah Young assisted on the score, and then 25 minutes
later, Young tallied a goal of her own. It was her 10th goal of the
season and 35th of her career. She sits fourth on the Hilltoppers'
all-time scoring list, just two behind Jenni Annicchiarico's
37.
Carroll led 2-0 at halftime, and then after the intermission it was
Kristine Sowers' turn, when she put a bulge in the onion bag in the
61st minute.
When freshman Laura Maddock's tally extended the lead to 4-0 in the
76th minute, assisted by Molly Clark, CC coach Dave Thorvilson
cleared his bench.
With all the Saints reserves on the pitch, sophomore Dominique
Anduaga-Arias buried an unassisted goal at nine minutes left.
"That was an incredible feeling," said the sophomore forward from
Spokane, Wash., describing the first goal of her career. "But I owe
it to my teammates, because nobody can score alone. I'm really
proud of the team, and I can't wait to keep going at
regionals."
CC's eighth successive victory moved its record to 16-4-1.
Carroll midfielder Allison Jones had an extra reason to celebrate,
adding a league crown among her birthday gifts. The fans also got
to see another local athlete in action, besides Beall, when former
Helena High standout Laura Beck played most of the final
minutes.
"This is an awesome team, and we're not done yet," said Beall,
after her final game at Nelson Stadium.
During 19 contests in goal this year, Beall has allowed just 16
goals, while posting 68 saves.
Westminster (9-10-1) needed a win in order to make the trip to
Dallas.
"I didn't realize this would be my last home game until after we
started playing," said an emotional Jordan Tipton, one of Carroll's
departing seniors. "I first started playing soccer when I was five,
so here I am 17 years later, and I still love the game.
"These girls are like family to me, it's sad that it's my last game
(at Nelson) with them, but we went out with a win, so it's a great
day to be a Saint," Tipton said, her voicing cracking.
Carroll leaves Monday for Dallas, with their first game at
regionals taking place on Wednesday, according to Thorvilson.