Lady Jackets Shutout Marauders (9/10/05)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings women’s soccer team posted its third-straight shutout on Saturday, blanking visiting University of Mary 2-0.  The win improved the Yellowjackets to 4-1-1 on the season and extended their home winning streak to 12 games and their home unbeaten streak to 13 games.

The Yellowjackets dominated the Marauders from the outset, out-shooting them 11-2 in the first half and 21-5 in the game.  A pair of Ally Stroup (Ojai, CA) goals proved to be the difference, giving MSU Billings its fourth win in a row.

“Our focus all week was on our attack,” said Yellowjacket head coach Don Trentham.  “I’m pleased because I thought we did a lot of things we worked on during the week.  We were able to score good goals.  It was a good offensive game, and I was happy with the way we looked in our attack.  Ally Stroup had a really strong game today, scoring two goals and leading the offense.  Mandy Ploskona did a great job of controlling the midfield play, and Brittney Sandau was dangerous all day long.”

Stroup struck first at 20:10 after Ploskonka (Fr., Federal Way, WA) sent her a nice through ball to the top of the 18 yard box.  Stroup turned and fired, bending the ball just inside the left post.  It was Ploskonka’s second assist of the season.  The Yellowjackets took the 1-0 advantage into halftime despite putting six shots on goal in the opening half.  Mary goalkeeper Brannigan Coyle had five first half saves and seven saves in the game.

Stroup’s second goal of the game and team-leading fourth of the season came at 60:36 to give the Jackets a 2-0 lead.  Sandau (So., Billings, MT) passed to Stroup from the left side, and Stroup drilled the ball into the upper right corner of the net from 15 yards out.  The assist was Sandau’s first of the year.  She shares the team goals lead with Stroup at four apiece.

Goalkeeper Megan Plank (Jr., Phoenix, AZ) moved to within one game of the school record for consecutive shutouts and eclipsed her own personal best for consecutive shutout minutes with 270:00.  Plank needed to make just one save in Saturday’s win.  She also now holds the school record for career shutouts with 11.

“Everybody’s continuing to play their role on the team,” said Trentham.  “As a result we’re winning games and shutting the opposing team’s offense down.  I was really happy with our defense to limit a team to one shot on goal.  That says a lot about the 10 players in front of the goalkeeper.”

The Yellowjackets will host University of Great Falls on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the MSU Billings College of Technology.  Great Falls is in its first season of women’s soccer competition and will be playing just its second game in school history.  The Argos lost to Rocky Mountain College, 4-0, in their season opener.

Note:  As they have been doing for the past three games, the MSU Billings women’s soccer team will be asking for donations to the Red Cross at Sunday’s game.  Those wishing to assist the Lady Yellowjackets in contributing to the Katrina relief effort can donate at the gate.

Click HERE for photos of the Lady Jackets vs. Mary.