FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, September 15, 2016 Preview: MSUB women have single game vs. COI before GNAC play next week
MSUB’s women’s soccer team will take on the College of Idaho on Sunday afternoon in its final non-conference game, before beginning GNAC play at home next week. BILLINGS, Mont. – A final non-conference match stands between the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team and its Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule, as the Yellowjackets will host the College of Idaho this Sunday at Yellowjacket Field with a noon kickoff. The fifth non-conference game of the season will be the third amidst a string of five straight at home for MSUB, which is in search of its first win of the year after starting the season 0-3-1. The Yellowjackets will remain home to host GNAC opponents Western Oregon University on Sept. 22 at 2 p.m., and Concordia University on Sept. 24 at noon. Sunday’s match against the Coyotes (3-1) will feature live video and statistics, available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. “We are looking forward to our last non-conference game on Sunday, and we are looking for a win at home,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “Playing at home is a huge advantage, and we are excited for our last game before starting GNAC play against Western Oregon next Thursday.”
MSUB is coming off of a 2-2, double-overtime draw against the University of Mary, after a 2-0 loss to San Francisco State in a pair of matches last week. The team has been out-scored 7-3 through four matches this season. LUBIENIECKI FINDS THE SIDE NETTING: Senior Dana Lubieniecki has scored two of the team’s three goals this season, including the most impressive finish of the year so far. Lining up a free kick on the left side just outside of the goal box, Lubieniecki lifted a curling shot over the Mary goalkeeper and into the side netting of the goal last Saturday. The strike gave the ‘Jackets a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the match, and Lubieniecki has already matched her goal total of two from last season. The Lakewood, Colo., native also found the net in her hometown earlier this year in a match against Colorado Christian University. SPANG SCORES FIRST OF THE YEAR: Junior Jessica Spang, who ranked second on the team last year with five goals and led the squad with 15 points, scored her first goal of the year for the Yellowjackets’ second finish against the Marauders. The junior Billings native needs two more goals to become just the 15th player in MSUB history to reach 10 in her career, and needs five more to break into the program’s top-10 in career goals. MSUB Women’s Soccer All-Time Goals Leaders Rk. Name Goals Years 1. Ally Stroup 40 2003-06 10. Alisa Sagdahl 13 2012-14 11. Samantha Sandau 12 2007-2010 12. Jelisa Guy 11 2006-07 Lacey Miles 11 1999 14. Sara Otis 10 2000-03 15. Chelsea Libby 9 2005-09 Chelsea Shuman 9 2011-14 16. Melissa Carlson 8 2005-08 Jessica Spang 8 2014-16
Junior Jessica Spang is tied for 16th in MSUB career scoring with eight goals in her three seasons.
DEVOTO EARNS FIRST CAREER POINT: Assisting on Spang’s goal, sophomore forward Jordan Devoto earned her first-ever point for the Yellowjackets. The play developed on a cross from Alexa Iacolucci, which glanced off of the crossbar and fell in front of the goal. Devoto reacted and struck the ball forward, and Spang was there to tuck it away. “I was on the right side and Alexa had the ball, and I thought, ‘I’m going to get in there just in case,’” Devoto commented on the goal-scoring play. “I just wanted to put the ball back in play, and I knew Jess was right there. She just put it away.” IACOLUCCI SHOOTS EARLY, OFTEN: Taking plenty of chances through her first four games, Iacolucci has been one of the most productive offensive players for the ‘Jackets. Leading the team with 14 shots so far, the freshman is tied for fourth in the GNAC while averaging 3.5 attempts per game. Of those shots, nine have been on frame, as Iacolucci has a stellar shots-on-goal percentage of .643 on the year. She has also taken 10 of the team’s 14 corner kicks, and has provided excellent service into the box on set pieces and long crosses. FRESHMEN SHINING ON BACK LINE: Just as Iacolucci has established herself as a standout in the midfield, a handful of other freshmen have done so on the back line. Center back Amanda Hemmen has played every minute of the season in four starts, mirroring the performance of senior captain Kari Kastelic. At the outside back positions, Courteney Shovlin and Kalin Sandow have each also started all four games and totaled more than 300 minutes. “It has been a really good transition, because the girls have been so welcoming,” Sandow commented on adjusting quickly to the level of play in
the college game. “Having such a big freshman class has made it easy, because we have a lot of people to work with and connect with.” DELGADILLO KEEPS UP THE GOOD WORK: Having made at least five saves in every game this year, sophomore goalkeeper Lili Delgadillo has played all 383 minutes between the posts. She has faced 59 shots total, and holds a save percentage of 78.8. Her 26 saves through four matches are tied for third-most in the GNAC. MIXING INTO THE ROTATION: In the midfield, freshmen Mackenzie Breeden and Claire Tevaseu have each played significant roles, while junior Kylee Wolfe has started 3 of 4 matches on the defensive unit. The duo of Breeden and Tevaseu have worked in tandem as center midfielders for the ‘Jackets, while Wolfe has pushed forward and had a presence offensively as well. Her six shots rank third on the team, and she has placed four of them on frame. Sunday, September 18 – College of Idaho Coyotes – 12 PM 2016 Record: 3-1 Head Coach: Brian Smith, 5th season 2015 Record: 14-4, 9-2 Cascade Collegiate Conference After dropping their season opener at Menlo (Calif.), the Coyotes have won three straight matches over NCAA Division III and NAIA opponents to move to 3-1 on the year. Most recently, COI defeated Whitman College 3-0 on the road, after a 2-1, double-overtime win over Linfield College at home against a pair of teams from the Northwest Conference. COI will challenge Rocky Mountain College, a Cascade Collegiate Conference opponent, on Saturday in Billings before taking on the ‘Jackets on Sunday. Featuring a well-balanced offense, eight different players have scored goals so far this year for COI. Leading the group is Jamiece Yizar, who has scored three times and added a pair of assists as the team’s top forward. Maddie Brown is the other Coyote to score multiple goals, as she has found the net twice on an efficient three shots on target. Leading the defensive squad have been Kiana Garcia and Hailey Woods, as the sophomore-junior duo have kept the team’s goals margin at almost 2-1. Garcia has totaled 278 minutes in four starts, while Woods has chipped in 255 minutes in three starts. Hailey Boyd has been a key midfielder as well, as the junior leads all field players with 357 minutes played. Brittany Houghton is the team’s starting goalkeeper, and has made 17 saves while facing 43 shots in four matches. Playing every minute of the season, the junior holds a save percentage of 73.9 and a goals-against average of 1.63. The Series: Sunday’s match will be the first-ever regular-season contest between the Yellowjackets and Coyotes.
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