For the second year in a row, Carroll College women's soccer coach Dave Thorvilson will field a young team.

But Thorvilson, who's starting his third season as the Saints head coach, proved last year that he can win with a group of youngsters, and in fact this year's squad is perhaps more experienced than the 2008 group.

Last year, the Saints, playing with just three seniors, compiled a 12-7 record. Carroll's 2008 kickers shared the regular season Frontier title with Rocky Mountain, and then placed second in the Unaffiliated Conference Tournament, being shaded by the Golden Bears in the chipper, 1-0.

CC will field five seniors this fall, although they still roster 19 sophomores or younger.

";Yes, we're young, but we have a ton of depth and I've got high hopes for this year," said Thorvilson, who sports a 29-9-2 record over the past two seasons.

Carroll's seniors include Katie Beall of Helena; Jordan Tipton of North Bend, Wash.; Katie Martin of Boise, Ida.; Hannah Young of Boise, Ida.; and Kristine Sowers of Monroe, Wash.

Their returning all-conference selection are Young, Martin, Beall, Meghan O'Connell, Rachel Lowe and Tayt Ellison.

In 2008, Young, a forward, scored eight goals, while posting three assists. Martin is a four-year starting defender for the Lady Saints. As a high schooler, Beall, a goalkeeper, helped Capital High to two state championships.

O'Connell is a sophomore forward from Kalsipell. Last year she led the Frontier Conference with 11 goals.

Ellison, a sophomore from Billings Senior, shook the onion bag seven times and delivered one assist as a freshman. Lowe is also a soph and hails from Richland, Wash. They are both midfielders.

Rounding out the roster are junior Kellyi Benson; sophomores Dominique Anduaga-Arias, Molly Clark, Anna Curtin, Lynnsey Janes, Lauren Cacopardo, Sophie Johnson, Abby Stensland, Mackensie Powell, Taryne Ela; and freshmen Laura Beck, Rachell Kuntz, Samantha Boyd, Kelsey Dye, Erin Volz, Laura Maddock and Allison Jones.

Thorvilson is assisted by Gerry Scheetz and Els Van Woert.

The Hilltoppers will travel to Missoula today for a scrimmage with the Montana Lady Griz.

";The purpose of our match against the Lady Grizzlies is to find out what we need to do before the regular season starts," Thorvilson said. ";Today will be a measuring stick of what works for us, and what we'll need to work on."

Carroll's season opener takes place on Saturday, Aug. 29, when they host a doubleheader versus St. Xavier of Chicago at Nelson Stadium.

Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net