Lady Yellowjacket Soccer Game at Mary Cancelled (Oct. 21, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings head women’s soccer coach Don Trentham announced Thursday that the school has had to cancel a scheduled October 29 game at University of Mary in Bismarck.  A misinterpretation of a new NCAA bylaw regarding exhibition games would have put the Lady Yellowjackets one game over the Division II maximum.

MSU Billings played an exhibition game at the University of Montana on August 22 and also had the maximum 20 regular season games scheduled.  NCAA bylaws allow Division II teams to play only 20 games against outside opponents, including exhibition games.  Trentham said he discovered the mistake last week and had to choose one game to cancel. 

“I made an honest mistake when I put the schedule together thinking that the game against the University of Montana would not count against our 20,” said Trentham.  “We contacted the NCAA last spring about the new legislation concerning scrimmages, but I still misinterpreted it.  For that, I am very sorry to the coaches, players and fans of the University of Mary soccer program, as well as to my own players who were looking forward to playing against a quality opponent next Friday.”

The Yellowjackets will now play 19 games that count toward the season record and statistics.  The game against Montana still counts as an exhibition.  The Jackets’ final three games of the season will be at Rocky on Thursday, at Carroll College on October 24, and home against Carroll on October 31.