Lady Yellowjackets’ Rally Falls Short at N.D. State (October 18, 2002)

FARGO, ND – The MSU Billings Yellowjackets scored three second half goals Friday afternoon, but fell short in their comeback attempt, falling to North Dakota State University 5-4 in women’s soccer action.  Unassisted goals by Kelly Bryn, Sara Otis, and Lacey Humbracht helped diminish a 4-1 halftime deficit, but NDSU held on for the win.

The Yellowjackets jumped to a 1-0 lead on Margot Merrill-Johnson’s penalty kick in the 11^th minute, but the Bison answered right back in the 12^th minute and ran off four unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead at the intermission. 

MSU Billings started its rally in the 46^th minute on Bryn’s third goal of the season.  After NDSU’s Jessica Rodgers scored the eventual winning goal in the 51^st minute, the Yellowjackets went on the offensive.  Otis scored her second goal of the year in the 52^nd minute to pull MSUB to within 5-3.  Humbracht then netted her second goal of the season in the 81^st minute to trim the lead to one.  Humbracht played the first 39 minutes at goalkeeper and made six saves before being replaced by Cori Russell.  Russell made two saves and gave up one goal.

MSU-Billing fell to 2-11 with the loss while NDSU improved to 6-7-1.  The Yellowjackets will travel to Jamestown for a match on Saturday.  The Yellowjackets defeated the Jimmies 2-0 on October 5.  MSUB will return home for the final two games of the season next week when they host Embry Riddle on October 25 and Carroll College on October 27.