Lady Jackets Blank Golden Eagles in First Game of Frenzy (Oct. 2, 2004)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Before the game started seniors Megan Beckstead and Candy Cherry told each other they were each going to score a goal.  In the span of two and a half minutes early in the first half their conversation proved prophetic as the Montana State-Billings women’s soccer team posted a 2-0 win over Minnesota-Crookston on Saturday. 

The game was the first of two for the Lady Yellowjackets at the second annual Futbol Frenzy Weekend.  The Yellowjackets will take on Northern State on Sunday at noon.  The Wolves are ranked tenth in the Central Region.  Sunday’s double-header with the men’s team will also include a barbeque for the public.

The Yellowjackets bounced back from three losses in Seattle last week to improve to 7-3-1 for the season.  The loss dropped the Golden Eagles to 2-8-0.

“I’m glad to be home and playing on grass,” said Beckstead.  “Playing on turf out in Seattle is hard on your body.  I thought we played well today.  I don’t think the scoring opportunities were there, but we’ll do a better job scoring tomorrow.”

Cherry (Sr., MF, Missoula, MT) scored the eventual game-winner just 13:22 into the game with her first goal of the season.  Beckstead (Sr., MF, Salt Lake City) lobbed a cross into the box, and Cherry was able to make a run that beat UM-Crookston goalkeeper Rachel LaFond. 

“Megan crossed it and it skipped over everyone’s head,” said Cherry of her goal.  “I just caught it on my hip and ran through it.”

Just over two minutes later, Cherry returned the favor, crossing into Beckstead who fired and scored from near the top of the box to give the Jackets a 2-0 lead at 15:51.  That proved to be more than enough for the Yellowjackets who controlled the game with ball possession throughout.

“It (the win) refocuses us for the next half of the season,” added Cherry.  “It calms us down so we can play our game.  One thing we realized in Seattle was that we competed well with three very good teams.  We showed that we are still a good team, and that gives us the confidence to win the games we can win.”

UM-Crookston played shorthanded for most of the game Saturday.  The Eagles suited up just 11 players and lost midfielder Rachelle Johnson midway through the first half to an injury.  UMC was unable to offer the Yellowjacket defense much of a threat as MSU Billings out shot the Eagles 18-2 in the game.  LaFond made five saves for the Eagles in the loss.

“Of all the teams we’ve played this year, that team played with a lot of heart,” said head coach Don Trentham of the Golden Eagles.  “We’ve been in that situation (shorthanded) and it’s no fun.  They made it difficult for us to win today because they played with heart.”

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