Yellowjackets Fall in Overtime Thriller to Rocky Mountain in Seventh Annual Rimrock Cup, 3-2

Box Score

Photo Gallery

BILLINGS, Mont. – A direct kick from about 30-yards out in overtime by Rocky Mountain College’s Abby Jenkins scored the game winner as RMC defeated Montana State Billings 3-2 on Senior Day at the College of Technology Field.  With the loss, MSUB falls to 8-7 on the year, while Rocky Mountain reclaims the Rimrock Cup and improves to 10-3. 

“I am proud of the way our team played and I am definitely hurting for them because I thought they deserved a better result,” head coach Don Trentham said. 

Rocky got on the board first just 2:09 into the contest as Allie Beckers took a nice pass from Anna Clark down the right side and scored past a diving Jordan Fenwick.  The game remained 1-0 through the rest of the first half as MSUB held a slim 6-5 lead in shots in the opening half and held a 1-0 lead in corner kicks.  Fenwick made three first half saves after the initial score.

The announced crowd of 323, a season high, were treated to two of the best Yellowjacket goals all season in the second half.  The first coming just 1:36 in the half as Ali Gamberg was on the receiving end of a Samantha Sandau and Chelsea Libby passes.  The ball was played from Sandau into Libby who crossed to Gamberg as she made a header past Vanessa Peters for the equalizer.

Under two minutes later, Rocky regained the lead as Kendra Emmett scored of an assist from Chloe Pennisi for a 2-1 lead at the 48:19 mark.

Libby and the Jackets would not go quietly as Kari Foreman crossed a pass to Libby from five yards out, who scored her third goal of the season at the 56:17 mark for the equalizer again.  Neither team was able to get a score through the rest of regulation.

“I thought both teams were dangerous in the attack today and Rocky managed to get one more than us,” Trentham added. 

Just over seven minutes into the overtime period, Jenkins fired a direct free kick from about 30-yards out that hit Fenwick’s hands and bounced into the net for the game winner. 

The Battlin’ Bears stopped a three-game skid in the series and MSUB now leads the all-time series 9-7-1.

For the game, the Yellowjackets out-shot Rocky 15-13 and held a 4-0 lead on corner kicks.  The Jackets held a 10-7 lead in shots on goal as well.  Peters had eight saves, while Fenwick had four.  Libby led the way for MSUB with a goal and an assist, while Gamberg led the way with three shots on goal and a goal.  Jenkins led the way for RMC with five shots, four on goal and one score.

Prior to the game, the Yellowjackets honored three seniors, Sara Gress, Mandy Ploskonka and Melissa Carlson, who all have had impressive careers at MSUB.  The class is 41-28-4 and has an opportunity possibly tie or break the school record of 45 wins for a senior class.  Each senior also has an opportunity to break or tie some individual records as well.

The Jackets will travel to Western Oregon and Saint Martin’s this week, beginning Thursday at WOU at 3:30 PST.  MSUB will conclude the road trip at Saint Martin’s Saturday at 3 p.m.  The Jackets return home to face nationally ranked Western Washington in the home finale Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.

“We will regroup Monday and get ready for a difficult conference road trip at Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon this week,” Trentham said.