Yellowjacket Women's Soccer Begins Conference Slate Wednesday

Game Notes in PDF Format

BRIEFLY
MSUB continues its six game home stand Wednesday and Saturday as it begins Great Northwest Athletic Conference action. The Yellowjackets battle Central Washington Wednesday at 4 p.m., at the MSUB Soccer Field and host No. 17 Seattle Pacific, Saturday at 1 p.m.

SCOUTING MSUB
The Montana State Billings Yellowjacket women’s soccer team enters the week with a 5-2 record and look to get off to a quick start in conference play.  The Jackets are fresh off a pair of 1-0 victories in the last two weeks over the University of Mary and Carroll College.  MSUB has not allowed a goal in 231:33, the longest streak of the season.

Leading the way for the Jackets this season is Kari Foreman, Chelsea Libby, Melissa Carlson and Mandy Ploskonka who all have four points.  Libby, Foreman and Carlson each have two goals, while Ploskonka leads the team with four assists.

In goal, the Jackets are led by Jordan Fenwick who as played and started all seven games.  She has a 5-2 record with three shutouts to go along with a 1.52 goals against average and 33 saves.  She has allowed 10 goals on the year.  Brittany Knudtzon also has seen action with one save.

RECAPPING LAST WEEK
The Yellowjackets posted their second shutout in as many games and third of the season as they defeated Carroll College 1-0 in the only game of the week this past Friday.  With under seven minutes left in regulation, the Jackets scored on a nice pass from Mandy Ploskonka to Chelsea Libby for the game winner.  It was second game in a row that the Jackets scored in the final 10 minutes of regulation to win.

SCOUTING CENTRAL WASHINGTON
The Wildcats enter the week with a 3-2-2 record and a 0-1 record in the GNAC.  CWU dropped a 2-1 home decision to Saint Martin’s Sept. 20.  Prior to that, CWU was 3-0-2 in its previous five games.  The Wildcats are led by Serena Tomaso who has three goals to lead the team.  She has 11 shots with eight on goal and one game winner.  Brittany Franks has two goals and one assist, while Kaycie Hutchins leads the team with three assists, a goal and 22 shots.

Defensively, the Wildcats are led by goalkeeper, Amber Easterbrook who has played every minute this season.  She has a 3-2-2 record with four shutouts and 28 saves.  Easterbrook has a 0.67 goals against average and has allowed just five scores on the year.

INSIDE THE SERIES
The Wildcats lead the all-time series 6-2, including a 3-0 victory in Ellensburg last season.  MSUB returned the favor in Billings with a 2-1 victory last year as well.  All three goals came in the second half as MSUB jumped out to a 2-0 lead.  The Wildcats scored a late goal in the game, but were unable to get any closer. 

SCOUTING SEATTLE PACIFIC
The Falcons enter the week ranked 17th nationally after losing at Western Washington and defeating Saint Martin’s  in their last two games by the score of 1-0.  Prior to the WWU game, the Falcons were 6-0-1 and ranked as high as fourth nationally.

Leading the way for SPU is Meredith Teague and Amanda Johnson each who have four goals thus far.  Teague leads the team with six assists and 14 points.  Johnson has three assists and leads the team with 41 shots, 17 on goal and three game winners.  Five other Falcons have one or two goals as well as the team has 16 for the year compared to just four for the opponents.

In goal, SPU has used two keepers for the season.  Jesslyn Rahm leads the team with a 4-0-1 record, three shutouts, 14 saves and a 0.55  goals against average.  Maddie Dickinson has a 0.25 goals against average with seven saves and a 3-1 record.  Combined, the team has an impressive 0.42 GAA with just four goals allowed compared to 21 saves and six shutouts.  

INSIDE THE SERIES
The Falcons lead the all-time series 4-0 including two victories last season.  MSUB has never scored on SPU and the Falcons own a 12-0 advantage in goals.

FOREMAN NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kari Foreman was named GNAC co-Player of the Week after her two goals Sept. 1.  She scored the game winner against Eastern New Mexico in a 3-0 victory and scored the equalizing goal against Fort Lewis as the Jackets went on for a 2-1 overtime victory.

PENALTY FREE JACKETS
Not one Yellowjacket player has bee carded through seven games this season.  MSUB had just four during the 2007 season, but two were in the first six games. 

ALL THE TIME GRESS
Sara Gress is the only Yellowjacket who has played all 638:20 this season. 

LISTEN TO COACH TRENTHAM
Head coach Don Trenham’s weekly coaches show will be uploaded to the website every Wednesday.  Click on audio library from the front page and select women’s soccer to hear the weekly show.

WINNING LATE
The last two games have come down to the wire for the Yellowjackets.  MSUB has scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of each of the last two games to win both 1-0.  Against Mary, the Jackets scored in the 83rd minute, while MSUB defeated Carroll College last week with a goal in the 84th minute. 

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. 

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.

WWW.MSUBILLINGS.EDU/ATHLETICS
Montana State Billings launched a newly redesigned website in August.  The new website features improved navigation, improved layout and a crisper look.  Log on and checkout the new www.msubillings.edu/athletics for all MSUB athletic information.