MSUB Women's Soccer Recap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, November 5, 2015 Yellowjackets’ season ends in first round of GNAC tourney, 4-0 vs. No. 2 WWU

No. 2 WWU scores three times in the second half and shuts out MSUB in the first round of the GNAC Championships Thursday.

BURNABY, B.C. – An early goal by Western Washington University’s Caitlyn Jobanek on a rebound header set the tone and three more in the second half sunk the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team in a 4-0 loss to the top-seeded Vikings in the first round of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships Saturday evening at Terry Fox Field on the Simon Fraser University campus.

The Yellowjackets entered the match as the No. 4 seed, by virtue of finishing the GNAC portion of their schedule with a record of 6-5-1. MSUB finished the year with a record of 8-7-2 overall. “I am definitely proud of the team,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “We had some tough games but we definitely bounced back, and finished in the top four in the GNAC.” The Vikings, ranked No. 2 in the latest National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America top-25 poll, pushed their record to 17-1-1 on the season and will advance to the GNAC title game against Seattle Pacific University on Saturday. The Falcons won the first match of the day 1-0 in double-overtime against Concordia University.

Jobanek scored again as part of a two-goal spurt with less than 10 minutes to play in the game, as she and Anna DeWeirdt each scored twice in the match.

MSUB’s best chance came on a header by junior center back Kari Kastelic, as it took an incredible diving save by WWU keeper Ashley Haden to deny Kastelic in the 71st minute. The close call came on a cross from Dana Lubieniecki, who stuck with the ball after a cleared corner kick attempt.

“This wasn’t the result we wanted but we took a risk to try to get a goal and we fought until the end,” Kastelic commented on the game. “I’m proud of the entire team for the effort tonight and for making it to the GNAC tournament.”

Brittney Greenback rattled the crossbar for the ‘Jackets in the 63rd minute, firing a left-footed shot from 25 yards out.

WWU doubled its lead in the 63rd minute, as DeWeirdt finished her first goal of the game from 12 yards out. The 2-0 edge prompted MSUB to push forward in the waning minutes of the match, creating several breakaway chances for the Vikings in the closing minutes.

Jobanek and DeWeirdt scored within three minutes of one another with less than five minutes to play, as WWU eliminated MSUB and ended the Yellowjackets’ season.

Overall, WWU held a 24-8 advantage in shots and placed 11 of its attempts on target. Yellowjacket goalkeeper Chloe Hopps wound up with seven saves in the match, while WWU’s Ashley Haden had five.

The Vikings won five corner kicks in the first half and held a 7-3 advantage in that category on the match.

Junior Brittney Greenback.

Five different players had shots on target for MSUB, as Alycia Wright, Kienna Ogden and Elizabeth Howard each also put the ball on frame. Howard had a decent chance in the 55th minute on a set piece, but her shot from 30 yards out missed high over the crossbar.

The match marked the end of the careers for MSUB’s four seniors, Katlyn Lokay, Teegan Koster, Ashely Marra, and Howard. Lokay, a four-year senior, moved up to No. 2 in the MSUB record books in career minutes played. A four-year starter, she played every single match for MSUB over her four seasons.

“It was a great season, and we grew a lot as a team,” Krakowiak said. “We finished top-four in a very competitive conference, and set the bar very high.”

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