Marshall’s second-half goal lifts Bears to exhibition win over ‘Jacket women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, August 20, 2016 Marshall’s second-half goal lifts Bears to exhibition win over ‘Jacket women

Opening its 2016 season with an exhibition match Saturday evening, MSUB’s women’s soccer team falls 1-0 to Rocky Mountain College on a second-half goal by Rita Marshall.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Rita Marshall found the back of the net in the 71st minute, lifting the Rocky Mountain College women’s soccer team to a 1-0 exhibition victory over Montana State University Billings Saturday evening at Yellowjacket Field.

In the home team’s first game of the 2016 preseason, six different players managed shots and a pair fell on target.

MSUB’s defense played strong from the start, but the team could not find a late equalizer in the non-counting match.

“I’m very happy with the newcomers, and they did a great job in their first match,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “Our returners played well also, and we definitely had a better second half. We created a lot of chances, and I’m very impressed with the whole team.”

Freshman Amanda Hemmen played a full 90 minutes at center back in her first-ever college start, pairing with senior captain Kari Kastelic to lead the team’s back line. Junior Jessica Spang also played a full 90 minutes, and had one of the team’s two shots on frame in the match.

In the first half, the Bears threatened with an early free kick deep in the offensive third. Lisa Marie Lauter delivered a shot towards goal through the front left edge of the box, that Yellowjacket goalkeeper Katelynn Kerkvliet snagged for her first save of the match.

Kastelic and Hemmen commanded MSUB’s back line early, winning multiple aerial balls and keeping the Bears’ offense at bay. “Amanda and Kari did an amazing job, and they are definitely clicking,” Krakowiak commented on the senior-freshman duo. “They are very confident in the back, and it was great to see both of them playing ninety (minutes).”

The teams entered the halftime break scoreless, with MSUB holding a slight 3-2 edge in shots.

RMC opened the second half by pressuring the Yellowjackets’ defense, as an early free kick in the left corner turned into a promising scoring chance. Kastelic got her head on a loose ball in the box, and Courteney Shovlin fought the ball off of an attacker to win a goal kick and end the threat. Shovlin was another freshman who had an impact on the match, contributing 70 strong minutes as an outside back and pushing forward to assist in the offensive effort.

Senior captain Dana Lubieniecki played 61 minutes in MSUB’s midfield in the season-opening exhibition match Saturday.

MSUB’s first serious threat of the second half materialized on a long, cross-field pass from Alexa Iacolucci to Jordan Devoto. The latter fought off a pair of defenders, but her shot from inside the box was pushed wide.

Iacolucci tracked down the ball and sent it back in to Hayley Warren, whose attempt from the top of the box missed high.

With 20 minutes to play, Spang backed down a defender in the goal box and fired a close shot from six yards out. Bears goalkeeper Lia Unterholzner made a diving save to preserve the clean sheet.

The Bears countered, and although they didn’t score on their first attempt, Marshall’s goal came quickly afterwards. The freshman created space for herself towards the middle of the field, and unleashed a right-footed shot from 25 yards out that carried strongly into the upper-right corner of the net.

Fighting the clock, MSUB put together a final scoring push inside of 10 minutes to play. Spang had a shot from eight yards out blocked, and Alycia Wright’s follow-up attempt was pushed over the crossbar.

Iacolucci finished the match with a team-best three shots, and played 65 solid minutes off of the bench. Freshman Kalin Sandow also saw the field for 65 minutes, and fellow first-year player Mackenzie Breeden had MSUB’s other shot on frame during her 49 minutes.

Kerkvliet consistently handled long crosses and balls played into her box through a full 90 minutes, and facilitated several effective passes and throws from her box.

THE BUZZ: Hemmen was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…four Bears players totaled 90 minutes on the match…MSUB held an overall 10-6 edge in shots…the Bears won two corner kicks while MSUB was granted one.

AHEAD: The ‘Jackets return to action on Tuesday, hosting Sheridan College in another exhibition match at Yellowjacket Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Mountain time.

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