Yellowjackets Weather the Red Storm

Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Montana State Billings junior forward, Samantha Sandau, broke a 2-2 score in the 52nd minute as the Yellowjackets picked up their first win of the season in a key NCAA Division II West Region battle at Dixie State on a very hot Monday afternoon.  With the 3-2 win, the Yellowjackets improve to 1-1 on the year and avenge a 4-0 loss to Dixie State last year in the season opener in Billings.

“Our team showed a lot of character in beating a good Dixie State team on the road,” head coach Don Trentham said.  “I was really proud of the way we took the game to Dixie State early and when they tied the game we didn’t get down on ourselves – we found a way to get the win.”

MSUB’s Jennifer Larsen scored her first collegiate goal as she was on the receiving end of a Chelsea Libby pass and a deflection off a corner kick for a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.  Larsen added her second goal of the half in the 38th minute as she scored on a breakaway move to centerfield for a 2-0 lead.

Dixie State (1-1) came back in the 42nd minute as Kelsey Tesoro scored in the box off a long free kick from Lauren Minnick for a 2-1 score.

The Red Storm evened the score in the 49th minute as Shannon Larsen scored on a breakaway from Mikala Wilkes for a 2-2 score.

It looked as if the momentum was about to swing back towards the home team, but Sandau and the Yellowjackets had different thoughts as she blasted a 25-yarder in the 52nd minute for a 3-2 score and the game winner.

“The attacking play today was brilliant at times,” Trentham added.  “Our midfield did a great job of not only attacking, but shutting down their midfield throughout the game.”

Dixie State had two good looks after Sandau’s goal, but the Yellowjacket defense was up to the task.  MSUB goalkeeper, Jordan Fenwick, stopped a Jessica Michie shot and a Camille Peterson shot went high.  Fenwick ended the game with five saves and improved to 1-1 on the year.

For the Yellowjackets offensively, Larsen led the way with two goals and four shots on goal.  Sandau had the game winner, while Jaucelyn Richter had five shots and one on goal.  MSUB had 13 shots as a team and six on goal and three corner kicks.

MSUB returns to Billings for the 2009 home opener, Friday at 1 p.m., versus Colorado Christian in the Seventh Annual MSU Billings Cup Presented by Best Western Clock Tower Inn.  The Yellowjackets also will face 2008 NCAA participant, Augustana College, on Sunday at 12 p.m., in the final game of the tournament.  Augustana and Colorado Christian are slated to square-off Saturday at 1 p.m., in a neutral site matchup at Yellowjacket Field.

This season ALL MSUB home men’s and women’s soccer games will be FREE on the internet with live video and audio as the voice of the Yellowjackets, Ken Adelblue, will have the call.