FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, September 22, 2016 ‘Jackets roll to 3-1 win over WOU in GNAC opener Thursday
Hayley Warren, Dana Lubieniecki, and Jordan Devoto each score for MSUB, as the ‘Jackets get their first win of the year, 3-1 over Western Oregon on Thursday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Goals from Hayley Warren, Dana Lubieniecki, and Jordan Devoto lifted the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team to its first win of the season on Thursday, as the Yellowjackets opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 3-1 victory over visiting Western Oregon University at Yellowjacket Field. Scoring for the second straight game, Warren gave her team the lead with less than five minutes to play in the first half after finishing a cross from Alycia Wright. Lubieniecki’s third goal of the season came in the 57th minute, and the first of Devoto’s career put the game away in the 71st minute. “This was a great win for the team, and we are very excited about today’s game,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. In addition to winning their first game of the season, the Yellowjackets (1-4-1, 1-0 GNAC) started off their conference season with a victory.
WOU’s leading scorer, Taylor Higa, was responsible for the team’s lone goal, as she cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 66th minute. The Wolves fell to 3-4 on the season with the loss, and the team is now 0-2 in GNAC play. Wright and Spang combined inside the box on the right side for MSUB’s first chance of the game, but the latter’s shot on frame was held onto by WOU keeper Caitlin Kastelic. The ‘Jackets had several other promising attempts in the beginning of the first half, but outshot WOU just 4-3 in the opening 45 minutes. Though she didn’t face a shot on target in the opening half, MSUB goalkeeper Lili Delgadillo commanded her box well. Making several aggressive runs off of her goal line, the sophomore handled threatening through balls before they could develop into shots. Striking just before the halftime break, Lubieniecki helped create MSUB’s first goal with a run out of the midfield and a pass to Wright in the corner. The sophomore forward crossed the ball into the box, where Warren brought the ball down and finished it into the lowerright corner of the net. “Alycia did a great job to cross the ball with pressure on her, and she didn’t panic,” Krakowiak said regarding the team’s first scoring play. “It was also very good awareness by Hayley, taking a good touch and placing the ball into the corner.” Each team won one corner kick in the opening half, and the ‘Jackets headed into the break with a 1-0 edge.
Jessica Spang (right) embraces Jordan Devoto after her first career goal on Thursday in MSUB’s 3-1 win over Western Oregon.
WOU’s first dangerous chance of the match came nine minutes into the second half, as Sydney Thomas beat several defenders on a strong run into the goal box. The sophomore fired a shot from point-blank range, but Delgadillo dove and blocked it wide of her near post.
MSUB found the net shortly afterwards, as Kylee Wolfe connected a pass to Lubieniecki and let the senior do the rest. Lubieniecki’s long shot from the right side just out of the box carried high enough to beat the Wolves’ keeper while grazing the bottom of the crossbar on its way into the net. “That was a great play by Kylee and a great overlap by Dana, and she just has a nose for goals,” Krakowiak said. “She placed it perfectly on the far post, and overall it was a very smart play.” The Wolves refused to go away, as Higa brought her team back into the match in the 67th minute with her fourth goal of the year. Shaking off a defender, her shot from the left side of the box glanced off of Delgadillo’s glove and then the left goal post before rolling into the net. Giving the ‘Jackets a lift in the final third of the game, Alexa Iacolucci created the team’s third goal by carrying the ball on a long run down the left sideline. The freshman lifted a high cross towards the far post, where Devoto was waiting to tap the ball into an open net. “I’m extremely happy for Jordan for reading the game, because she anticipated and got in front of the goal when Alexa was ready to cross,” said Krakowiak. “She also had pressure on her, and I’m proud of her.”
MSUB’s back line again played all 90 minutes, with Kari Kastelic, Amanda Hemmen, Courteney Shovlin, and Kalin Sandow helping protect the net the entire game. “We wanted to work hard for the girls who scored the goals for us, and we wanted to make sure we returned the favor by keeping the lead,” Sandow said regarding MSUB’s back four. “This (win) will just give us that boost that we have been looking for. Going into the second game of conference with a win will really help our attitudes.” Western Oregon out-shot MSUB 10-8 in the match, but the ‘Jackets placed six of their shots on frame while WOU managed just three on target. Lubieniecki and Wolfe each led MSUB with two shots in the game, while Mariah Konyn and Higa each had two for the Wolves. Delgadillo finished the match with a pair of saves for the ‘Jackets. “This was a tough GNAC game today, and to score three goals gives us a lot of confidence heading into Saturday’s game,” Krakowiak said. THE BUZZ: Devoto was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…the three goals for Lubieniecki are a new personal best for a single season…Iacolucci and Wolfe each earned their first career point with their assists in the game…MSUB has won the last four meetings against WOU dating back to September of 2014. AHEAD: The ‘Jackets continue GNAC play on Saturday, hosting Concordia University in the MSUB SAAC Game of the Week. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Yellowjacket Field, with live video and statistics available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here.
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