FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, October 6, 2016 No. 5 Vikings shut down ‘Jackets 3-0 on Thursday
Western Washington scores at the buzzer to take a 2-0 lead at halftime, and adds a third goal in the second half while allowing just one shot to MSUB in a 3-0 defeat for the ‘Jackets on the road Thursday. BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Scoring three times and limiting the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team to a season-low one shot, No. 5 Western Washington University rolled to a 3-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win at Harrington Field on Thursday night. The Vikings (10-0-1, 5-0-0 GNAC) placed half of their 22 shots in the game on target, and remained unbeaten on the season with their 10th straight victory. The Yellowjackets lost their second game in-a-row, and fell to 2-6-2 overall and 22-1 in conference play. The Vikings struck first, finding the net with just under 14 minutes until the halftime break on a corner-kick play. After MSUB goalkeeper Lili Delgadillo tipped a shot attempt off of the crossbar, Sierra Shugarts was in front of an open net for an easy finish. Gabriela Pelogi earned the assist on the play, creating the initial scoring chance with a header that required Delgadillo’s save.
Delgadillo followed with a clutch save three minutes later, racing forward off of her line and smothering a close shot from the left side of the goal box. It was one of eight saves in the match for the sophomore, as she tied her career high for stops and shots faced. The Vikings kept constant offensive pressure on MSUB’s back line into the closing minutes of the first half, winning seven corner kicks in the opening period while conceding none. Shocking the ‘Jackets at the end of the period, Jordyn Bartelson headed home her second goal of the year as the clock expired to give WWU a 2-0 edge at halftime. The strike came on an assist by Emily Webster, who hustled to the corner and sent the cross in just in time. Streaking onto a through ball with 10 minutes gone in the second half, Emily Nelson had a golden scoring chance for the Vikings as she laced a shot on frame. Delgadillo leapt back and to her right and just deflected the strong shot out of play for a corner kick. Becca Cates pushed the score line to 3-0 in the 58th minute, drilling home a penalty kick into the lower-left corner of the goal. MSUB prevented another goal from the Vikings, despite steady pressure into the final minutes of the match. With just two minutes to play, the ‘Jackets won their first corner kick of the match, but could not create a scoring chance with the opportunity. Kylee Wolfe had the only shot of the match for the ‘Jackets, who were shut out for the second game in-a-row. Goalkeepers Ashley Homer and Hillary O’Connor combined for the shutout for the host, which finished with 14 corner kicks in the match. THE BUZZ: Dana Lubieniecki was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…WWU pushed its win streak against MSUB to 10 games…the Vikings now lead the all-time series 18-3-2. UP NEXT: MSUB crosses the Canadian border to challenge Simon Fraser University on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Mountain time at Terry Fox Field in Burnaby, British Columbia. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--