Women’s Soccer Announces 2010 Schedule

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BILLINGS, Mont. – Three NCAA Tournament qualifiers from 2009 highlight the 2010 Montana State Billings women’s soccer schedule announced Tuesday by ninth-year head coach Don Trentham.  In addition, four 2010 opponents have participated in the NCAA Tournament over the past two years.

“Our program has never shied away from playing the best teams we can,” Trentham said.  “Our non-conference schedule presents some challenging contests that should definitely prepare us for the ever-difficult conference play.”

The 18-game schedule features nine home games and nine road trips, along with three preseason exhibition games all at home.  Included in the exhibition games are matches versus University of Great Falls (Aug. 19) and Trinity Lutheran (Aug. 29). 

MSUB and Rocky Mountain College are scheduled to play Sat., Aug. 21 at 3:30 p.m. in the Ninth Annual Rimrock Cup.  The match will be an exhibition for MSUB, but a counter for Rocky.  The Yellowjackets have won the Rimrock Cup five times.

The 2010 regular season gets underway with the Eighth Annual MSU Billings Cup, Sept. 2-6.  The Yellowjackets host NCAA Tournament participant Dixie State Thurs., Sept. 2, while Dixie State and the University of Mary play Sept. 4 and the Jackets conclude the three-team tournament Mon., Sept. 6 with Mary.

From there, the Yellowjackets begin a stretch of seven-of-nine away from home.  MSUB travels to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes, Colorado Christian and NCAA Tournament qualifier Colorado School of Mines, Sept. 10 and Sept. 12, respectively. Colorado School of Mines lost in the quarterfinals of the 2009 NCAA Championship to eventual National Champion Grand Valley State. 

For the second straight year, the Yellowjackets open conference play on the road.  MSUB is scheduled to play at NCAA Tournament participant Seattle Pacific Sept. 16 and at Central Washington Sept. 18.  The Jackets then travel to GNAC newcomer Simon Fraser (Sept. 23) and at Western Washington (Sept. 25). 

SFU becomes the 10th member of the GNAC since Seattle University left for Division I in 2008.  Located in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, Simon Fraser is the first Canadian school to join the NCAA.  On the soccer field, the Clan has had great success at the NAIA level as they have reached the Final Four five times in the last 15 years and won two National Championships.

“Simon Fraser is a great addition to our conference,” Trentham added.  “I expect them to be competitive right from the beginning.”

The Yellowjackets then return home to conclude September with a conference matchup with Western Oregon, Sept. 30, and open October with Saint Martin’s in the 15th Annual Futbol Frenzy doubleheader, Oct. 2.

“September will be a challenge for us again this year with six road games in a row,” Trentham said.  “However, this group did well on the road last year and I think we will be okay.”

MSUB went 5-3-1 away from home in 2009 and 3-3 on the road in conference play.

Returning to the road for the first of three final road games, the Yellowjackets travel to Northwest Nazarene Oct. 9, before returning home for five of the final seven games.

Home games versus Central Washington (Oct. 14) and Seattle Pacific (Oct. 16) follow the NNU game, along with return trips to Saint Martin’s (Oct. 21) and Western Oregon (Oct. 23).

The final three games of the regular season begin Oct. 28 with Western Washington, followed by Simon Fraser Oct. 30.  A week later, the Yellowjackets close the regular season with Parents Weekend and Senior Day, Sat., Nov. 6 versus Northwest Nazarene.