Libby’s Late Goal Lifts Jackets to 1-0 Victory

Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. – For the second time in as many games, the Montana State Billings women’s soccer team used a late goal to defeat its opponent.  This time, Chelsea Libby headed a ball past the Carroll College goalkeeper in the 84th minute as the Yellowjackets posted a 1-0 victory Friday afternoon at the MSUB Soccer Field.  Libby took the pass off a corner kick from Mandy Ploskonka for the game winner.

Last week, Melissa Carlson scored late in the game as the Yellowjackets defeated the University of Mary.  Ploskonka also the assist on that score as well.

“I thought we were tremendous in the first half,” head coach Don Trentham said.  “Unfortunately we were not rewarded with a goal.  I told the girls at halftime that a goal was coming and just to be patient.”

MSUB (5-2) dominated the offensive end much of the first half.  The Jackets had seven shots in the opening half to two by the Fighting Saints.  Carroll (4-3), ranked 26th nationally in NAIA, did have a great scoring opportunity as Abby Coburn fired a shot off a free kick that hit both posts like a pinball game and looked as if it went in, but the Fighting Saints were called for interference with the goalkeeper.

In the second half, the Jackets continued to have the shots as they out-shot Carroll 7-5 for a 14-7 advantage for the game.  MSUB also had nine shots on goal to four for Carroll.  The Jackets had couple of good looks that went just high or wide in the second half as well.

At the 83:39 mark, the Jackets lined up for their third corner of the game on the right side.  Ploskonka put the ball into the box as Libby headed it in for the score.

Moments later, Carroll’s Meghan O’Connell took a ball just outside the box and had a good look, but Yellowjacket keeper, Jordan Fenwick, came up with the great diving save to preserve the shutout and the victory.  It was Fenwick’s fourth save of the game and third shutout of the year.

For the game, the Jackets had a balanced attack of shots from 10 players.  Ali Gamberg led the team with three shots on goal.  Libby had just the one shot and goal, while Ploskonka had a shot and an assist.  Carroll had only four players with shots, led by four from Coburn.  No other Fighting Saint had more than one.

The Yellowjackets continue at home as they begin Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Central Washington at the MSUB Soccer Field.