September 3, 2007

Early Goals Lead to Jacket Victory
Box score
MSUB season statistics
Game photos

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings scored early and held on for a 3-1 win against Regis University on Monday.  The Lady Yellowjackets improved to 3-1 with the win, dropping Regis to 1-3. 

The Yellowjackets found pay dirt inside of 10 minutes when Mandy Ploskonka (Federal Way, Wash.) took a quick cross in the box from Brittney Sandau (Billings) and drove it past Rangers keeper Holly Redmond.  It was Ploskonka’s third goal and Sandau’s first assist of the year.

Brittany Knudtzon

The Yellowjackets controlled possession for much of the early going, but only challenged Redmond three times on the day.  All three shots on goal from MSUB found the net.  Kari Foreman (Lakewood, Colo.) scored her first collegiate goal at 27:12 when she headed in a ball from Samantha Sandau (Billings).  Forman’s goal turned out to be the game winner.

“Kari’s goal is a reflection of what we worked on in training this week,” said Yellowjacket head coach Don Trentham.  “We wanted the weak side runners getting in the box.  Mandy Ploskonka and Samantha Sandau did a nice combination, and Kari finished it off.  It’s nice to see two freshmen link up for the game winner.”

Brittney Sandau gave the Yellowjackets an insurance goal early in the second half when she beat a Rangers defender one-on-one and scored from the left side.  Sandau’s third goal of the year, coming at 58:30, gave MSUB breathing room, but Jacket keeper Brittany Knudtzon (Kent, Wash.) still had to work for the win.

The freshman made five saves with all of them coming in the second half.  A few of the saves were at the end of her reach with diving efforts knocking the shots out of play.

“I thought Brittany Knudtzon was the player of the match today,” said Trentham.  “She made a couple key saves that helped us get the win.  Without her making a couple great saves, the game would have been a different story.”

The Rangers’ five shots on goal in the second half were indicative of the momentum shift that took place after Sandau’s goal.  Regis couldn’t crack Knudtzon, though, and time ran out on the Rangers’ comeback bid.  Knudtzon won her third decision of the season to remain unbeaten at 3-0.

“One thing we talked about this week was scoring goals,” said Trentham.  “We did a great job getting some early goals and a 2-0 lead.  I thought we sat on the lead too much, but at the same time I give credit to Regis for coming out in the second half and taking it to us.  At the end of the day, we did a good job scoring early, and our team feels that if we get three goals we’re going to win.”

The Yellowjackets don’t get much rest before they hit the road to take on University of Mary on Wednesday.  The game kicks of at 4:00 p.m. CDT in Bismarck.  MSUB returns home to host Western Oregon in the Jackets’ GNAC opener on Sept. 13.