FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, September 27, 2016 MSUB women take momentum on road for GNAC games at NNU, CWU this week
Starting GNAC play with a win over Western Oregon and a draw against Concordia last week, MSUB’s women’s soccer team takes its four points on the road and plays at Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington this week. BILLINGS, Mont. – Gaining early momentum in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a win and a draw last week, the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team continues league play this week with a pair of road games. The Yellowjackets (1-4-2, 1-0-1 GNAC) travel to Nampa, Idaho, on Thursday to challenge Northwest Nazarene University (2-6-0, 0-3-0 GNAC) in a game that kicks off at 4 p.m. Mountain time at the NNU Soccer Field. The ‘Jackets then continue west to challenge Central Washington University (6-2-0, 1-1-0 GNAC) in Ellensburg, Wash., on Saturday in a 1 p.m. Mountain time kickoff at the CWU Soccer Field. Both matches this week will feature live video and live statistics, available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. “We played really well in our two games last week, and I think we have some good momentum going now,” said MSUB
head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “These will both be tough games this week, but as long as we play the way we did in our last two games then we will do well.” The ‘Jackets are coming off of a four-point week at home, as they opened GNAC play with a 3-1 win over Western Oregon last Thursday and a 0-0, double-overtime draw against Concordia University on Saturday. The strong results have MSUB in fourth place in the early GNAC standings, as the team is one point ahead of CWU and two points behind second-place Western Washington and Seattle Pacific. EMPHASIS ON DEFENSE: Responsible for the team’s first shutout of the season was a defensive four and goalkeeper who each played all 200 minutes last week. Center backs Amanda Hemmen and Kari Kastelic helped command the back line and stay organized, while outside backs Kalin Sandow and Courteney Shovlin helped keep the team’s opponents locked down for both of the matches. In goal, sophomore Lili Delgadillo made eight saves and faced 31 shots in the two matches. The shutout against CU was the second of her career, and she faced a careerhigh 21 shots while making six big saves. TEVASEU HOLDING STRONG: Recording her three highest minute totals on the year in her last three games, freshman midfielder Claire Tevaseu has put forth her best soccer as of late. Including a 91-minute game against CU, Tevaseu was another crucial part of MSUB’s defensive effort as she played directly in front of the back line. Overall she has started six matches this season MSUB’s four defenders and goalkeeper earned their first shutout of the year and will look to continue her increased presence on the last Saturday. field in the games this week. “The transition (to college) has gone really well, and we have a lot of upperclassmen who have been very welcoming,” said the freshman. “We just stepped up as a team and were able to compete at a high level last week. It was really good to give a couple of good games and get positive results.” DANA DOES IT AGAIN: Senior midfielder Dana Lubieniecki scored her third goal of the season in the win over WOU, and contributed directly on two of the team’s goals on Thursday. Playing a give-and-go with junior Kylee Wolfe, Lubieniecki ripped a one-time shot over the head of WOU’s keeper to give MSUB a 2-0 lead. The goal came after she set up MSUB’s first finish, with her through ball to Alycia Wright in the left corner. “We worked on that play in practice, and did some offensive plays,” Wolfe commented on the scoring play. “I just cut to the ball and did an overlap with Dana, and she ran around me and scored.” It was the first assist of the year for Wolfe, who has seen time on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field for the ‘Jackets. WARREN DOUBLES HER TALLY: After scoring in her first game of the season against College of Idaho, Warren struck again to give MSUB a 1-0 lead over WOU last Thursday. The senior handled a cross from Wright with a soft touch inside
the box, and calmly finished her shot from eight yards away. Warren now has two goals in three games, and has placed all three of the shots she has taken on target. DEVOTO SCORES FIRST CAREER GOAL: Sophomore forward Jordan Devoto found the net for her first career goal last week, finishing a cross from Alexa Iacolucci to pad MSUB’s lead in the 3-1 win over the Wolves. The Wilsall, Mont., native worked her way into the box and was waiting at the far post to finish the ball into the back of the net. She also has one assist this season, and ranks third on the team with three points. WRIGHT, IACOLUCCI TURN IN FIRST CAREER ASSISTS: Playing the ball to Warren on Thursday, Wright helped create MSUB’s first goal of the week after being set up by Lubieniecki. Patiently holding the ball against a WOU defender, Wright played a perfect ball over the keeper’s head and right to Warren on the far post. In three starts this season, Wright has totaled 373 minutes and has taken eight shots. Iacolucci also had the first assist of her career, coming through with the pass on Devoto’s finish. It was a play that the freshman created with a long run down the left sideline, as she worked past a defender into the corner before crossing the ball. Iacolucci continues to rank among the GNAC leaders in shots, at fifth with 22 so far on the year. Thursday, September 29, 2016 – at Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders – 4 PM MTN Time NNU Soccer Field | Nampa, ID | Live Video & Statistics 2016 Record: 2-6, 0-3 GNAC Head Coach: Mary Trigg, 4th season 2015 Record: 5-11-1, 2-9-1 GNAC The Crusaders enter Thursday’s game having lost three in-a-row and four of their last five matches overall. NNU opened the conference season with a 3-0 defeat against Seattle Pacific on Sept. 17, before falling to Concordia 3-0 and Western Oregon 2-1 in last week’s games. Seven different players have scored the team’s nine goals this year, with Sarah Jenkins and Madi Taylor leading the team with two finishes apiece. Jenkins also has two assists, as her point total of six leads the Crusaders. Daniele Ortiz is the only goalkeeper the team has utilized, as she has started eight games and is tied for the GNAC lead in saves with 46 on the year. In 720 minutes over eight games, she has faced 125 shots and holds a goals-against average of 2.12. Senior Kayla Williams leads the defensive unit, and has started all eight games and has played 672 minutes. She has also scored a goal while placing all three of her shots on target. The Series: The Yellowjackets hold a 16-5-2 record against Northwest Nazarene in a series that has featured 23 total matches. Last Time Out: The teams split last season’s series, with MSUB winning 2-0 at home and NNU defending its home field with a 2-1 victory. Junior Jessica Spang scored one of MSUB’s two goals at home, while Wright scored the one away goal for the ‘Jackets last season.
Saturday, October 1, 2016 – at Central Washington University Wildcats – 1 PM MTN Time CWU Soccer Field | Ellensburg, WA | Live Video & Statistics 2016 Record: 6-2, 1-1 GNAC Head Coach: Michael Farrand, 17th season 2015 Record: 7-9-1, 5-6-1 GNAC Splitting their first two conference games of the year, the Wildcats lost 2-0 to Simon Fraser last Thursday before holding on for a 1-0 victory over Seattle Pacific on the road last Saturday. The ‘Cats will host Western Oregon University on Thursday, before Saturday’s match against the Yellowjackets. A balanced attack has helped CWU out-score opponents 11-6 this season, as nine different players have scored for the Wildcats. Keilin Farrand and Mackenzie Nolte have each scored two goals, and Farrand also has two assists for a teambest six points. CWU relies on returning veterans Reilly Retz, Meghan Ward, and Allie Bohnett, who have all started all eight matches this season. Jessica Haga has also been a key starter, playing 616 minutes and contributing a goal. Freshman Emily Holt has started all eight games in goal, and has made 46 saves while facing 97 shots. She holds a strong goals-against average of 0.75, while recording four shutouts in 716 minutes. The Series: The ‘Jackets and ‘Cats have split the series evenly, with each team winning 11 matches and one draw factoring into the mix as well. Last Time Out: MSUB punched its ticket to the GNAC Championships in the final game of the season last year, defeating CWU 1-0 on a goal by Wright. It was the only meeting between the teams last year, and the ‘Jackets have won the last three overall against CWU. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--