FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, October 17, 2015 Wright, Griglio propel MSUB women to 2-0 win over Saints
Bailey Griglio and Alycia Wright each score in the first half to help MSUB’s women’s soccer team to a 2-0 shutout of Saint Martin’s on Saturday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Alycia Wright and Bailey Griglio scored within five minutes of each other less than 15 minutes into the match, helping the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team record a 2-0 shutout over Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe Saint Martin’s University Saturday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field. MSUB limited the Saints to just four shots on the match, and SMU did not have an attempt on target as Yellowjacket goalkeeper Chloe Hopps picked up her third shutout of the season. “It was great to get two goals from two freshmen, Alycia and Bailey,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “They have been playing really well, and they were two huge goals. We set the tone from the beginning and created a lot of chances.” With the win, the Yellowjackets improved to 6-5-2 on the season and pulled even in conference play at 4-4-1. The victory snapped a three-match losing skid for MSUB, which entered the day in fifth place in the GNAC standings with the topfour teams earning berths in the conference tournament. Saint Martin’s is now 1-11 overall and 0-8 in the GNAC.
“Getting a win today was absolutely huge coming off that tough loss 1-0,” said junior captain Kari Kastelic. “It was really good to come out and play hard. We came out with high energy and everybody played great. Getting a shutout of course is a good confidence booster going into these two games on the road next week.” Prior to the match, MSUB’s women warmed up wearing pink shirts on MSUB Kicks Cancer day to show support for the ongoing battle against cancer. “We want to show as much support as we can, and meeting Trevor’s parents today was unbelievable,” Krakowiak said regarding the attendance at Saturday’s matches of former MSUB men’s soccer player Trevor Wildberger’s parents. “It is way bigger than the sport itself. It is a great opportunity for us as a team and for our younger players to be part of this environment. We want to do this every year.” The Yellowjackets’ first goal was created on the right side of the field, as Lindsay Lucore made space for herself and played a through ball to Wright. The freshman slotted her fifth goal of the season inside of the far post from the right side of the box, giving the ‘Jackets a 1-0 lead 12 minutes into the match. Having scored the first two goals of her collegiate career the last time the two teams met, Griglio doubled MSUB’s lead less than five minutes later. Collecting a drop pass from Jessica Spang, Griglio let loose a long shot from 20 yards out that glanced off of the crossbar and into the net to make the score 2-0. “When I got the ball I just wanted to stay composed,” Griglio said. “I hit it up near post and when it left my foot, I was just hoping it would drop down because it looked like it was going high. It ended up going in the top V.” Hayley Warren had a chance to find the net early in the second half, but SMU goalkeeper Chelsie Still smothered her shot from point-blank range for a save. Still finished the match with five saves among the seven shots on target she faced, as she helped keep her team in the match and prevented a second-half goal by the ‘Jackets. Earning a free kick from 30 yards away with 16 minutes left in the match, Elizabeth Howard rattled the crossbar with a strong shot, as Still barely got a hand on it to prevent a goal. Freshman Bailey Griglio.
The Saints had a chance inside of 10 minutes remaining, as Camryn Althauser sent a long cross towards the box with her left foot from the left side. Gloria Petri ran onto it in the box, but Hopps secured it before the threat materialized into a shot. Fresh into the match on a corner kick with five minutes left, Jordan Devoto had a header shot towards goal that hit the top of the crossbar as it missed just high. Defensively, Kastelic, Katlyn Lokay, Sarah Coghlan and Lucore all played 90 minutes to secure the shutout. Junior captain Dana Lubieniecki also turned in a complete game, and placed her only shot of the match on frame for MSUB.
“We had a really good game on Thursday, and unfortunately we were just missing a goal,” Krakowiak said regarding a 10 setback against Seattle Pacific on Thursday. “It was a good, solid performance by us today with a lot of urgency, and I am very happy that we got a good win today.” THE BUZZ: With 180 minutes played this weekend, Lokay moved to No. 6 in MSUB history in career minutes played with 6,044…Lucore was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for her 90-minute effort and first career assist…Wright placed both of her shots on target, and nine different Yellowjackets had shots in the match. COMING UP: With three matches left on the regular-season schedule, the Yellowjackets will face Concordia University in Portland, Ore., and Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Ore., next weekend. MSUB will wrap up its regular season at home on Halloween against Central Washington University on Senior Day. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--