Jackets Blank Bears, Take Cup (10/29/05)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Stifling defense and two quick goals gave the Montana State-Billings women’s soccer team a 2-0 shutout at Rocky Mountain College on Saturday.  The win improved the Yellowjackets to 11-4-2 on the season, dropping the Bears to 9-6-1.

The Yellowjackets’ victory tied the season series between the teams at one game apiece.  Rocky defeated MSU Billings 2-1 in double overtime on October 12, snapping the Yellowjackets’ 16-game home unbeaten streak.

Saturday’s win by MSU Billings set up a shootout for the annual Rimrock Cup.  Each team scored four times in the initial five-round shootout, sending it into sudden death.  It took until the ninth shootout shot before the Jackets broke the tie to capture the Cup.  After goalkeeper Megan Plank (Jr., Phoenix, AZ) stopped Danielle Lamie on the Bears’ ninth shot, Janica Larson (So., Salt Lake City) hammered home the winning shot to give MSU Billings a 7-6 win.

Saturday’s Cup shootout was the second in the four-year series.  The Bears won the first two Cups, including a shootout win in 2003.  The Yellowjackets have won the last two Rimrock Cups. MSU Billings now leads the all-time series 7-6-1.

“I thought we moved the ball really well today and capitalized on our chances,” said Yellowjacket head coach Don Trentham.  “It’s good to go into the Heartland Conference Tournament with a couple wins in a row—a couple shutouts in a row.  We have a little momentum defensively.”

The Yellowjacket defense carried the day Saturday, limiting Rocky to just five total shots and two shots on goal.  Plank stopped both for her fifth shutout of the year.  The Yellowjacket offense netted both of its goals in a span of 1:16 late in the first half, providing more than enough cushion in a game that turned into a defensive battle.

Freshman Chelsea Libby (Puyallup, WA) broke the scoreless tie at 37:29 with her third goal of the season.  She was assisted by Ally Stroup (Jr., Ojai, CA) and Micah Merrill-Johnson (Fr., Salt Lake City).  Stroup sent the ball into the box to Merrill-Johnson, who collided with Bears goalkeeper Vanessa Peters.  Merrill-Johnson was able to get the ball to Libby before Merrill-Johnson and Peters went to the ground, and Libby capitalized on the open net.

The Yellowjackets followed quickly with their second goal at 38:45.  Stroup got loose in the box and fired a shot that was saved by Peters.  The rebound landed in front of Abby Bennett (So., Livingston, MT) who put it home for her first goal of the season.  Bennett scored three goals as a freshman last season, but has moved to defender this year because of a season-ending injury to Kelsey Vinnedge (Jr., Great Falls, MT).

“I felt like we had good communication,” Bennett said of the shutout.  “Plank was always talking.  We did a better job of covering the forwards and midfielders, and we did a good job of possessing the ball.  Everyone played a good game today.  There weren’t a lot of mistakes.  We did a good job of knocking the ball around.  We were determined, too.  We wanted to win the trophy.”

The trophy came courtesy of three big saves by Plank in the shootout.  After stopping the Bears’ first shooter, Plank gave up five straight goals.  But she stopped two of the last three shots to retain the Cup for MSU Billings.

“For the most part you have to pick a side and go with it,” said Plank of her shootout strategy.  “You have a 50-50 chance to pick the right side.  You can kind of look at the way their foot’s positioned, but mostly you’re just guessing.  At this level you have to pick a side before they shoot it.”

MSU Billings now looks forward to the Heartland Conference Championship Tournament next weekend in Austin, TX.  The Yellowjackets earned the No. 2 seed in the tourney and will face No. 3 St. Mary’s in the first round next Thursday at 11:00 a.m.  The winner of that semifinal game will face the winner of the semifinal between No. 1 Incarnate Word and No. 4 St. Edward’s.  St. Edward’s is the defending conference champion.

“I thinking winning today will help a lot,” said Plank.  “It’s a lot different going into the tournament with a win.  Plus, Rocky is always a big game for us.  It’s always nice to come back and get a win against the team that broke our home streak.  Everyone’s going to have high spirits going in.  We know all the teams are going to be good.  We’ll take it one game at a time.  If we win (Thursday), we’ll go on to the next game.  If we don’t, we’ll come home and look to get there next year.”