MSUB Women's Soccer Recap 9/24/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, September 24, 2015 2 second-half goals by Spang lift MSUB women to 2-1 win over WOU

Jessica Spang scores her fourth and fifth goals of the season to lift MSUB to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Western Oregon on Thursday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Jessica Spang scored twice in the second half to help the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit, as the Yellowjackets rallied to win their third game in-a-row 2-1 over Western Oregon University Thursday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.

Spang’s first goal came just three minutes into the second half, as Hayley Warren fed the ball to her inside of the box and she slotted it home off of the crossbar. The game-winner followed in the 65th minute, on a play that started with a throw-in by Sarah Coghlan in the Yellowjackets’ half of the field. This time, Warren flicked the ball to Spang with her head, and looked on as the sophomore beat a defender and WOU’s keeper to give MSUB the 2-1 edge.

The Yellowjackets were outshot on the game 11-5 by the Wolves, but each team placed three shots on target as MSUB made its opportunities count. Yellowjacket goalkeeper Chloe Hopps made a pair of saves and improved to 4-0 on the season with the win.

MSUB is off to a 2-0 start in GNAC play, and is now 4-1-1 overall on the season having won its third match in-a-row.

“We have to give the girls a lot of credit, because they responded and got two goals in the second half,” commented MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “That is not easy to get two goals when you’re down 1-0 to come back for the win.

Western Oregon is a very good team, and they definitely gave us a game today.”

For the Wolves, 10 different players accounted for the team’s 11 shots, with Allison Sprecher scoring the team’s goal 26 minutes into the match. Mariah Konyn, Dani Payne, and Dana Goularte each played all 90 minutes for WOU, which fell to 4-3 on the season and 0-2 in conference play with the loss.

For the ‘Jackets, the assists were the first two points on the season for Warren, a transfer from Shoreline Community College in her first season with MSUB. Warren was a key factor for MSUB throughout the game, winning several tackles and distributing the ball well to her teammates.

“Jessica and Hayley combined well today, and I was very happy to see both of them finding each other,” Krakowiak said.

“Jessica is doing very well, and she’s finding a way to score goals which is the hardest thing to teach in soccer. Give a lot of credit to our whole team and our defense. We didn’t really give them a lot of dangerous chances.”

The Yellowjackets allowed just one corner kick on the match, while winning three in the offensive third. Katlyn Lokay, Kari Kastelic, and Kienna Ogden all played 90 minutes as a defensive unit in front of Hopps in goal. Coghlan also turned in 75 quality minutes defensively off the bench for MSUB. The Wolves took advantage of a chance in the 26th minute, as Makana Pundyke found Sprecher with a through ball inside the six-yard box for a close-range goal.

“I’m extremely proud of the girls for keeping their heads up,” said junior captain Dana Lubieniecki. “Everyone still had that fight in them, and we were able to come back, make a recovery and win the game.”

The Yellowjackets responded right away in the second half, as Spang scored her fourth goal of the season with three minutes gone. Collecting a ball played in from Warren, Spang hit a shot that touched off of the crossbar before moving over the goal line and into the net.

Spang’s fifth goal of the season came midway through the period, and proved to be enough to ensure the victory for MSUB. THE BUZZ: Spang earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors for her two goals…she now has two gamewinning goals on the season…Alycia Wright had MSUB’s other shot on target, which was saved by WOU goalkeeper Lindsey Mabinuori.

“Concordia is a good team, and they have adjusted well to GNAC teams,” Krakowiak commented on MSUB’s next opponent. “We have to come out with the same mentality, urgency, and energy like we had today. All of our games are tough, and we have to respond as team if we want to get a win. We are excited to play them, and are looking forward to Saturday.”

COMING UP: The Yellowjackets welcome the GNAC’s newest member, Concordia University (Ore.) for a noon kickoff on Saturday at Yellowjacket Field. MSUB’s men’s soccer team will play Simon Fraser directly following the women’s match.

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