GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Some days the ball just doesn't bounce your way. The University of Providence women's soccer team had one of those days against Northwest University. Based on the final score, the Lady Argo's 3-0 loss to the Eagles was a blowout, but a few inches here and a few inches there could have produced a dramatically different result.
 
The opening salvo came from the Eagles, who got off 2 corner kicks and 2 shots in the first 20 minutes. UP had few chances in the following five minutes but in the 28th minute, NU drew first blood.
 
A cross into the UP penalty box found the feet of Madison Morrow who controlled it and got off an open shot from eight yards out that Lady Argo goalkeeper Dakota Neumann had no chance at stopping.
 
The first of many UP shots that almost scored but didn't, came almost exactly a minute later, with senior forward Alejandra Guzman getting off a good shot that required a good save to keep from scoring.
 
That look was last significant play in a relatively uneventful first half. The Eagles ended up with 4 shots to UP's 2, and 2 shots on goal to UP's 1.
 
Both teams made a few efforts towards the opponents net early in the second half, but it began to feel like the Lady Argos were building some momentum. In the 58th minute, junior midfielder Sydney Knieriem set up to take a long free kick from about 35 yards out. The junior has had a season of scoring highlight reel goals on set pieces and as the ball was in the air it looked like she might have another one.
 
Her line drive strike sailed towards the top of the Northwest net but this time it was just a touch too high and struck the crossbar and bounced back into play. Guzman got to the fall first and got off a shot of her own but it was blocked by an NU defender before it had a chance to score.
 
Northwest stole all the momentum back and then some a minute later. The Eagle's second goal started with a hard shot from distance by Katie Michkiosky that Neumann made a fantastic diving effort to save. Unfortunately for Neumann, the ball bounced straight to NU's Nadine Huff who had basically open net to shoot on with Neumann still scrambling to get back to her feet.
 
In the 63rd minute, UP's leading scorer, sophomore forward Eme McLaughlin, was set up with a shallow angle one-on-one with the Eagle keeper from about 8 yards out. She played a good strike aimed towards the far corner, but the goalie got just enough of it to keep the shot from scoring.
 
Once again, the Eagles answer an almost goal from the Lady Argos with an actual goal. This one came from a flick over Neumann by Madison Morrow in the 65th minute.
 
The Lady Argos kept up some good offensive pressure in the rest of the half, with multiple shots from junior Sarah Howell and McLaughlin, but just like the rest of the game, the ball never crossed the goal line.
 
In the end, the Lady Argos outshot the Eagles 12-10 with both teams getting 6 shots on goal.
 
A win against Northwest would have essentially wrapped up the Lady Argo's spot in the Cascade Collegiate Conference playoffs. Even with the loss, the team is still within the eight-team cut for the postseason, sitting tied for fifth with three teams in the CCC standings with 15 points.
 
Next, for the Lady Argos will be a road game against Southern Oregon University, one of the teams UP is tied with, on October 27 at 8 p.m.