MSUB Women's Soccer Preview 9/16/2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Preview: Women’s soccer kicks off GNAC play at home against NNU Saturday

Opening its conference schedule at home this weekend, the MSUB women’s soccer team hosts Northwest Nazarene at 2 p.m. at Yellowjacket Field on Saturday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – After starting the 2015 season with a 2-1-1 record, the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team will begin the Great Northwest Athletic Conference portion of its schedule this weekend as the Yellowjackets host Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday at 2 p.m.

In the first of a dozen conference games on tap this fall, MSUB will look to replicate last season’s second-place finish which landed the team in the GNAC Championship tournament. The game Saturday will be the first of three straight at home for the ‘Jackets, who will host Western Oregon University and Concordia University (Ore.) next weekend in two more conference contests.

The Yellowjackets return home this week after splitting a pair of nonconference matches in San Francisco last weekend.

MSUB lost a hard fought match 2-1 against San Francisco State University last Thursday, before rebounding with 30 shots and a dramatic, 2-1 double overtime win over the Academy of Art on Saturday.

“NNU is a very good, physical team,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak on his team’s upcoming opponent. “We need to come out strong, face that challenge, and be physical with them. Any game is tough in the GNAC, and it doesn’t matter how teams have done in the past or how they are doing now. We just need to come out with the right attitude.”

Despite trailing 2-0 at halftime against the Gators, MSUB rattled off 11 shots in the second half and came close to evening the score. Freshman Alycia Wright scored her second goal of the season in the 84th minute to give the Yellowjackets hope in the narrow defeat.

“The game against San Francisco State was a tough physical game, but we responded well in the second half with 11 shots,” Krakowiak said. “I was definitely happy with the way we created chances in the game against Academy of Art. It was definitely a good experience with two good games, and that’s what we were looking for to get us ready for GNAC this Saturday.”

On Saturday, it was junior captain Dana Lubieniecki who got MSUB out in front with her first goal of the season in the 53rd minute. The 'Jackets allowed just one shot on target the entire match, but the Urban Knights made it count as they evened the score in the 84th minute and pushed MSUB to overtime for the third time in its four matches this season.

Reigning GNAC Player of the Week Jessica Spang played the role of hero for the ‘Jackets, slotting home her second goal of the season with just over three minutes left to send her team home with the win. Spang also provided the assist on Wright’s goal on Thursday, as she has a pair of goals and assists on the season.

VETS IN THE CENTER: A trio of veteran returners have anchored the ‘Jackets in the center of the field so far this year, as Kari Kastelic, Katlyn Lokay and Elizabeth Howard have each played every minute of the season. Howard has provided an assist during her 407 minutes on the pitch, and is tied for fourth on the team with six shots.

“One thing we took away from this weekend is when we put our substitutes in, the tempo stayed the same or even got better,” Howard commented on her team’s most recent road trip. “A lot of the freshmen are coming in as impact players and are raising the energy.”

Junior defender Kari Kastelic.

MARRA IN THE MIDFIELD: Senior Ashely Marra has started all four matches for MSUB as a midfielder/forward, and has played a key role in the Yellowjackets’ attack. Marra generated Spang’s game-winner against AAU, sending a cross into the box that the sophomore was able to finish for the golden goal.

“It was great hustle by Ash saving the ball and connecting with Jessica,” Krakowiak said regarding Marra’s contribution on the goal.

OGDEN, COGHLAN IN THE BACK: Complementing central defenders Lokay and Kastelic, freshmen Kienna Ogden and Sarah Coghlan have slotted in as the outside backs for the majority of the season so far. Each has started 3 of 4 matches, contributing quality minutes on the back line. Junior Lindsay Lucore has also factored into MSUB’s defense, earning a pair of starts and logging 116 minutes as an outside back in the first four games.

“Having Katlyn and Kari has helped so much with their leadership,” Ogden commented on playing next to the two captains. “They both are very good at what they do.”

BETWEEN THE PIPES: Freshmen Lili Delgadillo and Chloe Hopps have each started a pair of games in goal for MSUB, splitting the action evenly thus far. Delgadillo has made eight saves in her two matches, notching one shutout and a goals-against average of 0.90. Hopps has recorded wins in both of the matches she has played in, totaling 206 minutes as both have gone into extra time.

GREENBACK KEEPS THE PRESSURE ON: Continuing to lead the team and ranking sixth across the entire GNAC in shots, junior midfielder Brittney Greenback has taken aim towards goal often in her first four matches. Greenback has taken a dozen shots and placed three on target, as she is just five shots shy of the conference leader.

Saturday, September 19 – Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders – 2 p.m.

2015 Record: 2-2, 0-0 GNAC Head Coach: Mary Trigg, 3rd season 2014 Record: 4-11-3, 3-10-1 GNAC Saturday’s game will be the second of the week in Billings for the Crusaders, who will take on Rocky Mountain College on Thursday before facing the Yellowjackets.

NNU has started its 2015 campaign with an even 2-2 record, defeating San Francisco State 2-0 at home and Dominican University 1-0 in California. The Crusaders fell to visiting Regis University 3-2 and lost at Holy Names University 3-2 as well.

Four different players have scored for the ‘Saders this season, with Nicole Nsa leading the way with three goals in four games. Returners Kelsey Martin and Lexi Fesenbek have combined for three more goals for NNU, and the latter leads the squad with a pair of assists.

Goalkeeper Daniele Ortiz has started all four matches for NNU and currently leads the GNAC in saves with 33 (8.25 per game). She has recorded a pair of shutouts on the season with a goals-against average of 1.47.

As a team, the Crusaders have scored seven goals while allowing six, but have been out-shot on the season 86-42. NNU has allowed 24 corner kicks while winning 17 so far.

The Series: The Yellowjackets hold a commanding 15-4-2 alltime record against the Crusaders, and are currently riding a three-game winning streak against the Idaho opponent.

Last Time Out: The Yellowjackets won both matches against the Crusaders last season, pulling out a gutsy, come-frombehind 3-2 win on the road in the most recent meeting on Nov. 1, 2014. Lokay scored a pair of goals in the victory.

The ‘Jackets also made history in a 1-0 home win, becoming just the fifth team in conference history to hold its opponent without a shot.

Saturday’s match will feature live video and statistics, available via MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here.

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