Waterford — The goalies, East Lyme High School’s Sam Rodes and Waterford’s Victoria Sturm, have combined for 10 shutouts already this season with five each.

(That’s five ice creams East Lyme head coach Rachel Redding owes Rodes, one for each zero she’s produced.)

So the probability of a high-scoring game Monday night in an Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I showdown between the rival teams wasn’t really high, especially when you add the defenders, East Lyme all-stater Maya Pitruzzello and Waterford’s senior tandem of Angeles Pina-Rodriguez and Eli Briggs.

The final score, 0-0, favored the goalkeepers. By a league-wide vote, there is no overtime played in ECC soccer this season.

“That one save she made where she was across into the box and she went near post to grab it, not too many goalkeepers are making that play, so credit to her,” Waterford coach Chris Ghiglia said, complimenting Rodes before speaking of his own goalie in Sturm.

“(Sturm) is very modest. She was all-conference (Division II) last year. Just so much composure back there.”

Rodes, who took over the starting job after a summer in which she practiced diligently at Bridebrook Park in Niantic, has allowed one goal for the Vikings (4-1-1, 1-0-1). Sturm has allowed none for Waterford (4-0-1, 1-0-1), with the two making defense a joy to watch Monday.

Rodes made 14 saves, Sturm 12.

In the second half, Rodes got her fingertips on a shot by Waterford’s Adyson Wiseman to clear the ball, then saved the rebound just seconds later. With 1 minute, 39 seconds left and the Lancers’ Camryn Dickinson driving to the goal, Rodes stepped out of the cage and made a diving stop to break up the play.

Also late in the game, with a dangerous attempt by East Lyme’s Acadia Evans bouncing around, Sturm plucked it confidently from the air.

“I just think once I’m in the goal, I get in my mind and it’s like, ‘I’m good to go,’” Rodes said. “I’m very confident in the back; it comes from my training and all my teammates giving me support. I’m really proud of myself and I’m proud of my teammates.”

The two are part of a a dynamic roster of goalies currently in the ECC, including all four of last year’s all-conference picks at the position in Norwich Free Academy’s Ava Boenig (Division I), Sturm (Division II), Lyman Memorial’s Phoebe Carpenter (Division III) and Wheeler’s Jill Comeau (Division IV), in addition to Bacon Academy’s Elizabeth Glover, who was Most Valuable Player in the Bobcats’ Class M state championship victory a year ago.

The deadlock was also an example of the highly competitive slate of games in ECC Division I this season, with Waterford making the move from DII. Also in the division Monday, Woodstock Academy beat defending champion NFA 2-0.

“That means our game with Woodstock on Wednesday night is huge,” Ghiglia said. “And East Lyme’s game with NFA on Wednesday night is huge.”

“We talked about the things we had to fix,” said Redding, whose team was outshot 6-1 in the opening half but came back to put pressure on the Lancers throughout the second half. “My girls are out there, heart and hustle, and we’re going to play as hard as we can for each other, so that’s what the pep talk at halftime was about. ... It was a great game. (Waterford) is a great team.”

v.fulkerson@theday.com