MSUB Cup Game Notes

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BRIEFLY
The 2008 regular season kicks off Thursday with the Sixth Annual MSU Billings Cup presented by Best Western Clocktower Inn.  MSUB, Fort Lewis College, Dixie State and Eastern New Mexico all are participating in the tournament.

JUST FOR KICKS
In 2007, MSUB was 9-10-1 overall and 5-8-1 in its first year in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  This will be just the second time since 2003 that MSUB has opened the season at home. 

SIXTH ANNUAL MSU BILLINGS CUP
MSUB hosts the Sixth Annual MSU Billings Cup to begin the 2008 season.  The Jackets are 6-2-2 in the MSU Billings Cup.  MSUB has won five straight in the tournament and has not lost since the first year in 2002.  ENMU, Dixie State and Fort Lewis are making their first appearance in the event.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2008
The Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team enters the 2008 season determined to advance in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Jackets are poised to climb the GNAC ladder with a core of veteran players and a talented pool of newcomers.

Coming off a season overall of 9-10-1 in 2007, head coach Don Trentham begins his seventh season at the helm of the Yellowjackets.  Trentham remains focused on winning the conference and playing in the NCAA’s, although he fully understands the toughness of the contenders he faces.

With this objective in mind, Trentham is optimistic about the team’s make-up and skill set.  Although the team will feel the loss of the graduation of four seniors who had been the most successful in terms of W/L record in the history of the program, Trentham is confident in the ability of the 15 returning veterans and eight talented newcomers to fill those roles.

Other strengths include the keen competition up top among returning players and several of the incoming recruiting class.  Trentham feels that the Jackets will compete very well up top and at outside mid.  Although they don’t have quite as much experience defensively, the defensive players are strong competitors that will improve technically and tactically throughout the season.

The Yellowjackets always pride themselves in putting a solid schedule that will give them an opportunity to get to the tournament.  They play Ft. Lewis (NCAA), Mary (NCAA), Carroll (NAIA Tournament), SPU (Final Four), Western Washington (tournament two years ago).  From start to finish, there are not any breaks, according to Trentham.
           
“This is one of the most competitive schedules since I have been here,” Trentham said.  “We have to be mentally and physically ready to play every game and, if we play well, we will be in a position to get into the NCAA Tournament.”

ABOUT DIXIE STATE COLLEGE
The Rebels enter the 2008 season after a 14-3-1 finish to 2007 and a second place performance in the Pacific West Conference.  Dixie State returns its top two scorers from a year ago in Mikayla Wilkes who led the team with 16 goals and Erica Mouritsen with 11 goals.  No other Rebel had more than four goals last season.  With the offensive firewpower back, DSC will have replace its goalkeeper as Suzanne Hunt moved on.  The Rebels have two freshmen that will vie for the goalkeeping duties.

MSUB and Dixie State have never met.  The Jackets are 0-1 all-time against teams from Utah.  MSUB dropped a 2-0 decision Oct. 24, 2003, against Utah Valle State.   

ABOUT FORT LEWIS COLLEGE
The Skyhawks enter the 2008 season looking to improve on their record-breaking 2007 campaign.  Fort Lewis finished the 2007 season with a 14-5-3 record.  FLC made its first NCAA Tournament appearance and won back-to-back Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships.  The Skyhawks return their top three performers from last season and are still very young.  Leading scorer, Sara Egbom, returns for her sophomore season.  Egbom led the team with 13 goals and eight game winners.  Also back is Hayley Hollenga who scored nine goals and led the team with nine assists as a freshman.  Bree Baker returns in goal for her senor year.  She started all 22 games and tallied 72 saves with 12 wins and nine shutouts.  Baker had an impressive 0.76 goals against average.

MSUB is 1-5-1 all-time against Fort Lewis.  Fort Lewis won a 1-0 overtime decision last season in Durango, Colo., as Egbom scored the game winner four minutes into the first overtime period.  MSUB’s lone win in the series came in 2006 with a 1-0 overtime victory in Portales, NM.  MSUB assistant coach Ally Stroup had the assist on Jelisa Guy’s   game winner in the 99th minute.

ABOUT EASTERN NEW MEXICO
The Zias enter the 2008 season on the heels of a 9-9 record in 2007.  ENMU returns its top scorer from a year ago as Samantha Lawrence tallied 11 goals as a sophomore to lead the team.  The Zias will have to replace their goalkeeper as Stephanie Sanchez who played and started in all 18 games has moved on.  She had a 1.79 GAA with 113 saves.

The Jackets have a 2-0 record all-time agaisnt ENMU.  MSUB won a 5-0 deicision last year on Aug. 25.

JACKETS SELECTED THIRD
MSUB has been selected third in the GNAC preseason poll by the league coaches.  Defending conference champion and 2007 NCAA Final Four Seattle Pacific was selected first, followed by Western Washington, MSUB, Central Washington, Northwest Nazarene and Western Oregon tied for fifth and Saint Martin’s was picked seventh.

MSUB SIGNS EIGHT
The Montana State Billings women’s soccer program signed eight players during the offseason to go along with 16 returners.  All eight incoming players will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact. 

STOUT DEFENSE
The Yellowjackets have not surrendered a goal in the MSU Billings Cup since 2004.  In addition, that is 457:31 seconds without giving up a goal in the tournement.  Mesa State scored the last goal in a 2-1 double overtime vicotory for the Jackets.

MSUB SOCCER FIELD WINS AWARD
The newly renovated MSUB Soccer Field won a NCAA Community Engagement Award as the top community relations effort submitted from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  MSUB was one of 22 schools to receive the award and also received a $500 grant from the NCAA to be used in future community-engagement efforts.

TEAMS OPEN WITH DIXIE STATE