WINONA, Minn. – Despite a strong second-half attack, the Carleton College women's soccer team (13-1-5, 7-0-3 MIAC) settled for a scoreless draw at Saint Mary's University (11-2-4, 7-1-2 MIAC) on Saturday.
 
Today's result, coupled with results elsewhere in the conference, sets up a dramatic three-team finish in the race for the MIAC crown. Carleton and St. Catherine (10-2-4, 7-0-3 MIAC) will enter next Saturday's regular-season finale with 24 standings points, one ahead of Saint Mary's. The Knights host College of Saint Benedict (5-7-3, 2-6-2 MIAC), while St. Catherine visits Bethel University (6-6-4, 2-5-3 MIAC) and Saint Mary's travels to Hamline University (5-9-5, 1-6-3 MIAC)
 
Carleton finished the contest with a 17-5 edge in shots and a 6-3 edge in shots on goal, but the Cardinals, who entered the contest in second place, benefitted from solid goaltending by Anna Peckosh—who leads qualifying MIAC goalkeepers with both a 0.42 goals against average and .895 save percentage.
 
Missing a couple starters due to injury, the Knights got off to a slower start as both sides dug in defensively over the first 45 minutes. Each side attempted only four shots in the opening period. Carleton's best look was Kathryn Kresse's shot from the top of the 18-yard box in the 19th minute. Saint Mary's top opportunity came via a pair of corner kicks in the closing moments of the stanza, but the Cardinals were unable to get off a clean shot.
 
The middle portion of the second half saw a flurry of action. In the 63rd minute, Carleton goalkeeper Avery Trapp made sprawling save to direct a Lauren Fields' attempt beyond the left post, keeping the game scoreless. That proved to be the only shot attempt the Knights' defense would surrender after halftime.
 
Carleton almost opened the scoring in the 66th minute, but Ashlyn Haigh's header clanged off the crossbar. Not long after, Kresse had a follow-up shot blocked.
 
The Knights kept up the pressure and were nearly rewarded in the 84th minute. First-year Eliza Barton collected a loose ball, dribbled into the box and sent a shot from the right side that sailed inches just over the crossbar.
 
On a final counterattack in the 90th minute, Dylan Baker got in alone against the Saint Mary's goalie, but Peckosh dove to her right and kept the scoreboard blank with her sixth save of the contest.
 
Trapp registered three saves in posting her MIAC-best eighth shutout of the season.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton returns home to host Saint Benedict on Senior Day at Bell Field. Kickoff on Saturday, Nov. 2 in set for 1:00 p.m., and the Knights will have a chance to earn a third straight MIAC regular-season crown.