Stroup, Plank Garner Heartland Awards (8/30/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings women’s soccer players Ally Stroup and Megan Plank have been named Heartland Conference players of the week.  Stroup was the offensive player of the week while Plank shared defensive honors with Heather Koudelka of St. Edward’s University.

Stroup, a senior forward from Ojai, CA, had three goals and an assist to lead the Yellowjackets to a 3-0 record on opening weekend.  She scored the game winning goal in a 1-0 shutout of Colorado School of Mines on Thursday.  That goal broke the career points record at MSU Billings.  On Saturday Stroup recorded the assist on the game winning goal in a 1-0 overtime win against Fort Lewis.  She wrapped up the week with a pair of goals in a 3-1 win at Eastern New Mexico.  Stroup now has 77 career points and is within four of the school record for career goals and within two of the career game winning goals record.

Plank, a senior goalkeeper from Phoenix, AZ, pitched a pair of shutouts last week and allowed just one goal in 297:11.  Plank’s play was instrumental in helping the Yellowjackets win three-straight road games for the first time.  Plank started the season with 241:20 shutout minutes, not allowing a goal in over two and a half games.  The streak ended in the 52^nd minute of the 3-1 win at Eastern New Mexico.  For the weekend, Plank had 16 saves and a 0.32 goals against average.  She added to her career school records for wins (31), saves (271), and shutouts (15).

The Yellowjackets open their home schedule this weekend when they host the fifth annual MSU Billings Cup.  MSUB will face Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday and University of Mary on Sunday.  University of Great Falls will also be at the tournament, facing Mary and UTPB on Saturday and Sunday respectively.