MSUB Women's Soccer Recap 10/24/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, October 24, 2015 ‘Jackets shut down Wolves 1-0 in road win Saturday

Brittney Greenback scores her first career goal and it holds up as the game-winner, as the MSUB women’s soccer team shuts out Western Oregon in a 1-0 road win Saturday.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Tucking away her first career goal late in the first half, Montana State University Billings women’s soccer junior Brittney Greenback scored the game-winner as the Yellowjackets shut out host Western Oregon University 1-0 Saturday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at the WOU Soccer Field.

Greenback’s finish from 15 yards out came in the 37th minute, as she received a pass from Dariann Oaks and beat WOU’s keeper. Dana Lubieniecki was also credited with an assist on the play, as she and Oaks combined quickly before Greenback’s shot.

“Everybody did an outstanding job, and this is a tough place to come in and play,” commented MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “This is a great win for our team and for our program. I am proud of the team for getting a shutout and a win, and moving up in the standings.”

Despite being out-shot in the match 14-4, MSUB made its lone shot on target count. In goal, Chloe Hopps handled all three of WOU’s shots on target, earning her fourth shutout of the season.

“Chloe had a really good game, and the last ten minutes we defended really well,” Krakowiak said. “Everybody came in and worked extremely hard, and our back four and Chloe were very solid today.”

Defensively, MSUB’s back line helped limit WOU’s chances that wound up on target, knocking down multiple shots and preventing scoring chances from developing into serious threats.

Anchoring the line as usual were Katlyn Lokay and Kari Kastelic in the center, as the duo played every minute for the 15th game in-a-row this season. Freshmen Kienna Ogden and Sarah Coghlan also played the entire game as outside backs, as did Elizabeth Howard in the midfield as all three players contributed to the shutout effort as well.

“They did a good job of shutting down their forwards, sticking together, and not letting anything through,” Krakowiak said of his back line. “They covered for each other, played tough and hard, and it was a grind today.”

Teegan Koster had the first chance of the game for the ‘Jackets, with her shot from inside the box in the 13th minute being knocked down by WOU’s back line.

The Yellowjackets endured an offensive push by the Wolves two minutes later, as a shot by Makana Pundyke was blocked and Hopps made a save on a shot by Vicky Cruz Rosales.

With time winding down in the first half, Greenback pushed the Yellowjackets ahead in the 37th minute. The play started with a quick combination between Dana Lubieniecki and Dariann Oaks, before Greenback collected the ball from 15 yards out and slotted home her first goal of the season.

“It was a great finish,” Krakowiak said of Greenback’s goal. “It was a great shot by Brit, and she put it into the upper-90 where the goalie had no chance. Dana playing 90 minutes did an awesome job getting up and down the field, and made really good passes. She was really sharp in the final third, finding passes and being dangerous on the ball.”

Earning a corner kick in the 39th minute, Julie Belden served in a cross, and Pundyke had another shot less than a minute later that missed left of the goal.

Hopps made a save on a shot by Mariah Konyn in the 43rd minute, keeping the score at 1-0 entering the halftime break.

Junior Brittney Greenback.

The ‘Jackets continued to play strong defensively to open the second, as Hopps had another save on a shot by Konyn in the 56th minute.

MSUB made a push forward with 12 minutes left, as Lubieniecki missed with a shot from the top of the box and Hayley Warren pushed one wide of the goal from the same area.

WOU managed three shots in the final six minutes as they searched for an equalizer, but none of them were on target as MSUB closed out the victory.

THE BUZZ: Oaks’s assist counted as her first career point…Greenback was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…the shutout was the fifth of the season for the ‘Jackets.

NEXT UP: The ‘Jackets return home for their final regular season match of 2015, as MSUB will host Central Washington University on Halloween at Yellowjacket Field. MSUB’s four seniors – Koster, Lokay, Howard, and Ashely Marra – will be honored in a pregame ceremony before the noon kickoff.

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