Saints March Past Yellowjackets, 2-1

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BILLINGS, Mont. – Two first half goals by Carroll College propelled the Saints to a 2-1 victory at Montana State Billings Friday afternoon.  The Yellowjackets scored a late goal, but a furious shooting barrage came up short for the Yellowjackets in the final minutes.  With the loss, the Yellowjackets fell to 8-5-1 on the year, while Carroll improved to 10-4-1.

“Some days you dominate the possession, some days you dominate the statistics and we did that today,” head coach Don Trentham said.  “Unfortunately we didn’t get the result.  Credit Carroll, they came out and played well and got the win, but I was really proud of the way we battled until the end.”

The Yellowjackets dominated the statistics as they held leads in shots (17-7), shots on goal (8-3) and corner kicks (9-0).  Freshman Jaucelyn Richter led the way for MSUB with six shots with two on goal and an assist.  Carly Valentine had one shot on goal and the lone goal for the Yellowjackets.

Valentine was on the receiving end of Richter’s corner kick in the 83rd minute as she got her foot on the ball in front of the net for the score.  It was the second consecutive game that the Yellowjackets have scored off a set piece.  MSUB scored two goals off corner kicks Wednesday at Rocky Mountain College.

The first half began as both teams were feeling each other out.  MSUB had four good offensive possessions early on, but couldn’t convert.  Kari Foreman had a good look at a header, but a diving Katie Beall just got her hand on it, deflecting the ball on the Jackets’ best scoring opportunity in the early going. 

The Saints took the early lead at the 24:12 mark as Kristine Sowers fired a long pass from the midfield stripe to a streaking Meghan O’Connell who flipped it over the head of MSUB goalkeeper Jordan Fenwick for her 13th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Later in the half, Carroll moved the ball up field in transition off a corner kick by MSUB with some nice passing.  Lauren Cacopardo was fouled in the box setting up a penalty kick at the 43:39 mark.  Carroll’s Tayt Ellison took the penalty kick and converted for a 2-0 lead.

For the half, MSUB talked six shots and Carroll had five.  The Saints held a 3-2 lead in shots on goal, but MSUB held a 6-0 lead in corner kicks.

MSUB dominated the second half to the tune of 11-2 in shots.  Beall made five saves alone in the second half and six for the game.  In the 63rd minute, it looked as if MSUB would get on the board as freshman Emily Holley fired a shot and Rachell Kuntz made the team save inside the six keeping the score 2-0 in favor of the Saints.