Lady Jackets Take POTW Honors (11/1/05)

BILLINGS, MT - Montana State-Billings took this week’s Heartland Conference women’s soccer player of the week awards with the Yellowjackets receiving both offensive and defensive honors.  Megan Plank was named the defensive player of the week with Ally Stroup named as the offensive player of the week.
                                                                  
Plank, a junior goalkeeper from Phoenix, Arizona led the Jacket defense to a 2-0 win over cross town rival Rocky Mountain to capture the 2005 Rimrock Cup Championship.  The Jacket defense allowed the Bears just two shots on goal and five shots total.  In defense, Plank has racked up 62 saves for the season, tying her for second in the Heartland Conference and giving her the career record at MSU Billings with 253.  Plank also ranks second in the Conference with a .91 goals against average and is first in shutouts with five.  Plank is also become the first goalkeeper in MSUB history to record back-to-back seasons with at least 10 victories.

Stroup, a junior midfielder from Ojai, California assisted the Jackets in their 2-0 victory over Rocky Mountain.  Stroup chalked up two assists in the game to give the Lady Jackets the title as 2005 Rimrock Cup Champions.  Stroup has 70 career points, second-most in school history.  Two more points in the post-season will give her the record.  Stroup leads the conference in both assists and in assists per game with seven and a (.41) average respectively. Stroup is also ranked third in the Conference with nine goals. 

The Lady Jackets are ranked second in the Heartland Conference and will travel to Austin, Texas Thursday to play against HLC opponent St. Mary's (TX) in the first game of the Conference Championships.