FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, October 22, 2015 ‘Jackets lose heartbreaker in double OT at Concordia, 1-0
MSUB and CU battle tough through regulation and into double overtime, but a goal in the 105th minute for CU sinks the ‘Jackets on the road Thursday in a 1-0 loss. PORTLAND, Ore. – Bobbi Eckler made the last of her game-high nine shots count on Thursday, as she scored in the 105th minute to lift the Concordia University women’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over visiting Montana State University Billings at Tuominen Yard in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match. The Yellowjackets and Cavaliers each had plenty of chances in the physical match, with CU totaling 19 shots, MSUB finishing with 17 and each team placing six on target. Chloe Hopps made five huge saves for the ‘Jackets, but in the end Eckler broke free of MSUB’s back line on a pass from McKenna Stocker and beat Hopps one-on-one to end the match with a golden goal. The loss dropped MSUB to 6-6-2 overall on the season and one game under .500 at 4-5-1 in conference play. The Cavaliers improved to 10-2-2 overall and remained in second place in the conference standings with a record of 7-1-1.
Six different Yellowjackets had multiple shots in the match, and freshman Bailey Griglio placed all three of her attempts on target. Griglio had one of MSUB’s best chances to score, but her shot inside the box in the first overtime period was denied on a diving save by CU goalkeeper Olivia Brock. Brock finished the match with six saves, earning her eighth shutout of the season. The ‘Jackets dodged a bullet in the opening five minutes, as a left-footed shot by Eckler from eight yards out on the left side was pushed just wide of the near post. Yellowjacket senior Teegan Koster had the first shot on target of the game for MSUB, but CU goalkeeper Olivia Brock secured her right-footed strike from outside the goal box on the right side. Getting to the ball inside a crowded box, Alycia Wright got her head on a cross but pushed her shot wide of the right goal post midway through the first. With neither team finding the net, the score remained 0-0 heading into the halftime break. The Cavs nearly broke through 12 minutes into the second half, but Hopps raced off of her line to knock away a close-range shot by Eckler.
Freshman Bailey Griglio.
Earning a corner kick with 27 minutes to play, Elizabeth Howard sent a tight cross towards the six-yard box from the left side. Brock came off her line to snag it as she made contact with MSUB’s attackers, and the ‘Jackets earned another corner kick on their next possession down the field. Inside of 19 minutes to play, CU created a decent chance off of a corner kick. Kayla Braunthal received a rebound at the top of the box, but her shot from 23 yards carried high and out of play. Howard had a chance on a 25-yard free kick from the left side, but her low shot was knocked down before it threatened Brock on the goal line. Less than a minute later, Brock sprinted off her line and out of the box to clear a near breakaway for the ‘Jackets, preventing an excellent goal-scoring opportunity. Brock made a diving save on the close shot by Griglio less than three minutes into overtime, saving the day for the Cavaliers on a great chance for the ‘Jackets. Less than a minute later, CU earned a dangerous free kick on the corner of the goal box, but Eckler’s shot on the run curled high outside of the far post for a goal kick. Wright got a shot on frame with 10 seconds left in the first overtime period, but Brock held it easily as time ran out. The Cavaliers came out of the short intermission with a bang, as it took another save from Hopps to prevent a shot by Gabrielle Ewing from ending the match. Shortly thereafter, Eckler finished the job as she took a touch into the box and fired home her third goal of the season and second game-winner. Freshman Sarah Coghlan, sophomore Jessica Spang, and junior Dana Lubieniecki also each played the entire match for the Yellowjackets, while Brittney Greenback had a pair of shots in 82 strong minutes off the bench.
“Katlyn, Kari and Chloe all had a good game,” commented MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “They won a lot of balls and all of them kept us in the game. Chloe made some outstanding saves.” THE BUZZ: Katlyn Lokay and Kari Kastelic kept their season-long streak of consecutive minutes played alive, anchoring the Yellowjackets’ defense for the full 104-plus minutes…Hopps was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…the two teams battled to a scoreless double-overtime draw the first time they met this season in Billings on Sept. 26. NEXT UP: The ‘Jackets will challenge Western Oregon University on Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff scheduled from the WOU Soccer Field in Monmouth, Ore. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--