12:30 p.m. PT Friday – SOU at Carroll – Live Stream
12:30 p.m. PT Saturday – SOU at Great Falls – Live Stats

ASHLAND – For the first time in its 17-year existence, the Southern Oregon women's soccer team has positioned itself to secure a Cascade Conference championship. And with four games left on their regular-season schedule, the first-place Raiders could do it as soon as this weekend in Montana.

At 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, SOU (10-3-1 overall, 7-0 CCC) plays the second-place and defending champion Carroll Saints (9-3-3, 6-0-3) in Helena. At 12:30 p.m. Saturday, the Raiders will visit the ninth-place Great Falls Argos (2-9-1, 2-6-1). Win both, and the Raiders will have clinched at least a share of the CCC title, the No. 1 seed in the upcoming CCC tournament, and their first-ever berth in the 32-team NAIA Championships.

Even if the Raiders slip up, their road to a title is favorable. Their 21 points are tied with Carroll, but the Saints have played two more games; they play Thursday against Oregon Tech and end their regular season Friday. Third-place Corban (5-2 CCC) is lurking behind with 15 points, but the Raiders own the tiebreaker (if it comes to that) due to their 5-0 rout in the head-to-head matchup on Sept. 23.

SOU wraps up its regular season at home on Oct. 28-29 against two playoff contenders, College of Idaho and Rocky Mountain. The eight-team CCC tournament, which will decide the CCC's second automatic qualifier for the NAIA Championships, is slated for Nov. 4-7 in Springfield. Only SOU and Carroll have locked up tourney berths.

Briefly:
– After last Thursday's 1-0 double-overtime victory over Oregon Tech, SOU is up to 10 shutouts this season, matching the team's single-season record that was established in 2010. The Raiders have yet to allow a goal in conference play – the last team to get through an entire CCC schedule without giving up a goal was Concordia in 2007 – and it's now been 849 minutes since they allowed an NAIA team to score.
– Megan McArthur had the game-winner against the Owls, scoring a header with her back to the goal in the 107th minute. She's scored nine goals this season, including one in all seven home games and five game-winners. Her six goals in conference play lead the CCC, and she's the fifth player in team history to score 20 in a career.
– Facienne Graham was credited with an assist on McArthur's goal, giving her nine points (3 goals, 3 assists) this season – the second-most on the team. Six of those have been recorded in conference play.
– SOU has out-shot its conference opponents, 107-52, including a 61-19 advantage in first halves. Thanks to a sturdy defense in front of her, keeper Kylie Moltzen has only needed to make 21 saves to get 6 ½ shutouts.
– Including two this year, the Raiders have won seven consecutive CCC road contests – the longest such streak in team history. They've outscored opponents 13-1 in those games.

About Carroll:
– The Saints put the Raiders in the driver's seat last weekend with ties at Evergreen (1-1) and Northwest (0-0). Four of their last six games have gone to overtime, and they've only allowed three goals in CCC play.
– Due to the same unbalanced schedule that marred SOU a year ago, seven of their nine CCC games have been played on the road. At home, their 6-1-2 in CCC play over the last two years.
– Michaela Kueffler leads the CCC in points this season with five goals and three assists in circuit action.
– Keeper Jamie Carter owns a save percentage of .857, ranking second in the league.
– Carroll won last year's meeting in Ashland, 3-0.

About Great Falls:
– The Argos have played four straight overtime games, going 1-2-1.
– They've been outscored 26-9 this season. Malena Lennon leads the team with three goals.
– UGF is 0-3 at home.
– Kyra Dorvall has made 97 saves but allowed 25 goals.
– SOU won last year's meeting in Ashland, 2-1 in overtime on Lauren Aldana's golden goal.