Iacolucci’s goals lift MSUB women to 3-0 exhibition win over Sheridan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Iacolucci’s goals lift MSUB women to 3-0 exhibition win over Sheridan

Alexa Iacolucci scores a pair of goals and Kari Kastelic adds a third as the Yellowjacket women pick up a 3-0 exhibition win over Sheridan College on Tuesday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Alexa Iacolucci fired home a pair of goals from beyond 25 yards out, and Kari Kastelic added a third as the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team cruised to a 3-0 exhibition shutout win over Sheridan College Tuesday evening at Yellowjacket Field.

“We are happy with this win, and I liked how we matched the physicality of Sheridan,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “Now we have one more exhibition game, and we have a better idea of our players’ positions. I’m really happy how the team played today, and everybody stepped up and played great.”

Playing a full 90 minutes, Iacolucci had quality touches on the ball throughout the match and provided a needed spark to the offense in the second half. “Alexa has a really high soccer IQ, and she knows what her strengths are,” Krakowiak said. “She just knows what to do on the ball, especially in the final third. She had absolutely awesome technique on both of her goals today.”

In addition to anchoring MSUB’s back line, Kastelic caused constant chaos on the attacking end with three header shots on target. Playing in front of sophomore goalkeeper Katelynn Kerkvliet, the entire defensive unit helped silence the Generals and limit the visiting team to four shots in the match.

Twenty minutes into the match the ‘Jackets won a free kick deep in the offensive third on the left side of the field.

Iacolucci delivered a high cross into the goal box with her left foot, but Kastelic’s header shot missed just wide of the post.

Inside of 11 minutes to go in the first, the Generals created their best offensive threat of the half. Courteney Shovlin raced back to track down Sheridan’s attacker, making a crucial tackle for the ‘Jackets in the final third. Kerkvliet won an equally important challenge two minutes later, racing off of her goal line and knocking another dangerous through ball clear.

MSUB wasted little time getting on the score sheet after the halftime break, as an early corner kick set up the first goal of the match. This time Kastelic’s aim was true as her header shot from the far post found the back of the net on a cross from freshman Claire Tevaseu.

Kerkvliet made her first save of the match eight minutes into the second, timing her jump perfectly to snag a high shot off of her line.

The ‘Jackets doubled their tally in the 56th minute on Iacolucci’s fifth shot of the match. The freshman collected a cross from Jessica Spang and blasted a perfect shot into the upper left corner of the goal from 25 yards outside of the box.

Preserving her shutout with another save, Kerkvliet slid to her left to deny a point blank shot with just under 30 minutes to play. Holding tough down the stretch, MSUB’s defense kept the Generals at bay into the closing minutes of the game.

Mackenzie Breeden created Iacolucci’s final chance of the game, distributing the ball from the center of the pitch. Iacolucci took one touch into space, and crushed a rising, 30-yard shot off of the bottom of the crossbar and into the net to put the game out of reach in the 83rd minute.

MSUB freshman Claire Tevaseu delivered an assist on the Yellowjackets’ first goal of the match, coming from a corner kick.

MSUB out-shot Sheridan 25-4 in the match, and placed 13 shots on target. Iacolucci led all players with seven shots and four on target, and sophomore Alycia Wright had five shots and three on frame.

Kerkvliet finished with two saves in the shutout, while Amanda Hill

made 10 stops in 90 minutes for Sheridan.

THE BUZZ: Iacolucci was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB’s record remains at 0-0 after the non-counting exhibition contest…Shovlin also played the entire match for MSUB on the back line.

COMING UP: The Yellowjackets wrap up their 2016 pre-season on Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Northwest College. The match will be part of a doubleheader with the MSUB men’s soccer team, and will serve as the final tune-up before the ‘Jackets open their regular season at Colorado Christian University on Sept. 1.

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