Yellowjackets Down Western Oregon in Double Overtime, 2-1

Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. – For the first time in school history, the Montana State Billings women’s soccer team earned a hard-fought 2-1 double overtime victory at Western Oregon Thursday afternoon.  With the win, the Yellowjackets improved to 5-3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. WOU fell to 1-6-3 on the year and 0-2 in conference play.  MSUB now is 1-2 all-time at WOU and 3-3 overall.

“I was really pleased with the way we came out in the first half, although we didn’t score, we created chances,” head coach Don Trentham said.  “I felt the game evened out in the second half with both teams having opportunities to score.  When the game went to overtime, the team was determined to win.”

Kari Foreman tallied her second goal of the season in the 102nd minute as she took a touch pass from freshman Jaucelyn Richter for the score in front of the net for the game winner.  It was her second game winner of the season as she tallied the winning goal in a 4-0 win against Minnesota-Crookston on Sept. 13.

The teams played a scoreless first half as MSUB had a number of chances in the opening stanza, but was unable to convert.  Richter hit the crossbar twice in the half, but was denied by the woodwork.  The Yellowjackets outshot the Wolves 8-3 in the opening half. WOU goalkeeper, Brittney Rigtrup, made five of her seven saves in the opening half. 

In the second half, the game tightened up as WOU held an 8-6 lead in shots with MSUB goalkeeper, Jordan Fenwick, making five of her seven assists in the half. 

The Wolves got on the board first in the 55th minute as Marina Austin scored on a header off a cross pass from Kelsey Harms that hit the side bar and deflected into the net. 

The lead was short lived for WOU as less than two minutes later, freshman Jennifer Larsen scored her sixth goal of the season on a nice pass from Samantha Sandau on the left side of the box for the equalizer. 

The game remained 1-1 through the rest of regulation.  In the first overtime, WOU had two good looks at the game winner as the MSUB defense came up big sending the game into the second overtime.  There, the Yellowjackets scored the game winner just 1:43 into the period. 

For the game, the Yellowjackets held a slim 15-13 lead in shots as the shots on goal were tied at nine.  MSUB had four corner kicks to one for WOU.  Richter led the way with five shots with two on goal and the game winning assist.  Larsen had four shots with three on goal and a goal.  Foreman had three shots on goal with the game winner. 

“I felt our entire defense played very well today and Jordan (Fenwick) made some key saves when we did breakdown,” Trentham added.

The Yellowjackets will complete their six-game road swing Saturday at Saint Martin’s at 1 p.m. Pacific time.  MSUB then returns home for Futbol Frenzy, Oct. 3 versus Central Washington at 1 p.m.