Yellowjackets’ Upset Bid of No. 17 Seattle Pacific Falls Short in Overtime, 3-2

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BILLINGS, Mont. – A Jocelyn Charette goal at the 98:10 mark in overtime spoiled Montana State Billings women’s soccer upset bid of No. 17 Seattle Pacific Thursday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field, 3-2.  The Yellowjackets held a 2-0 lead at halftime, but SPU roared back in the second half with two goals and the game-winner in overtime.

“What a great GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) game this afternoon,” head coach Don Trentham said.  “I thought every player on our team played with the passion I want from MSUB players.  There are a lot of positives to take from today’s match, as well as some things we need to improve on in order to beat a great team like the one we played today.”

The Yellowjackets (9-9-1, 5-6 GNAC) came out of the gates looking for the upset as they dominated much of the opening half in the offensive end.  MSUB freshman, Jaucelyn Richter, scored the first goal of the game and her 10th of the season as she took a pass from Carly Valentine for the score past SPU goalkeeper, Maddie Dickinson. 

The goal was the first score for the Yellowjackets in school history against SPU.  MSUB had been outscored by a margin of 21-0 in seven meetings with the Falcons entering today’s match.  Just about 15 minutes later, MSUB found the back of the net for the second time in the game as Kari Foreman scored her eighth goal of the year on the second assist from Valentine for a 2-0 lead. 

For the half, MSUB scored on two of its five shots and MSUB goalkeeper, Jordan Fenwick, made five key first half saves.

The Falcons (15-3-1, 8-2-1 GNAC) pressured more in the second half, but the Yellowjackets continued to shoot the ball and had a couple of good looks in the first 15 minutes of the second stanza as Valentine fired a shot just high over the net and Richter added a shot just wide. 

SPU found the back of the net at the 61:22 mark on a goal by Megan Lindsay to cut the Yellowjacket lead in half.

Moments later, Richter looked as if she would put the Yellowjackets up 3-1 as she made a turn inside the box and scored, but the Yellowjackets were called offside.  Later in the half, the Yellowjackets had another great opportunity as Richter fired a shot off the crossbar and Caitlin Differding fired the rebound shot, but Jesslyn Rahm Kellerman, who replaced Dickinson at half in goal, made the save.

The Falcons evened the score in the 76th minute as Andrea Chan headed it in off an assist from Charette for a 2-2 score off the second corner kick of the half for SPU.

The game remained 2-2 through the rest of regulation as SPU had a great opportunity late in the half as Charette fired on goal and Fenwick made a diving save, followed by a shot by Chan and a team save for the Yellowjackets to keep the score tied. 

In overtime, SPU had two corner kick opportunities and had a shot by Brandi Hamre and a save from Fenwick early on.  Charette had the game winner as she drove down the far side of the field and fired from about 15 yards out into the upper right corner at the 98:10 mark for her 12th score of the year and the game-winner.

The stats were very even in the game as SPU held a slim 14-11 lead in shots and held a 12-5 lead in shots on goal.  The Falcons had nine corner kicks in the game to two for the Yellowjackets.  Fenwick made eight saves in the losing effort, while Dickinson had one and Rahm Kellerman had two.

Richter led the way for MSUB with four shots with two on goal and a score.  It was her first goal since scoring two goals at Saint Martin’s, Sept. 26.  Valentine added two assists and now has four for the year.  Charette led the way for SPU with three shots on goal, one score and one assist.

“At the end of the day, I’m very proud of our effort today and feel for my team as I truly believe they deserved to win, however I give credit to Seattle (Pacific) for finding a way to come back from a 2-0 deficit on the road,” Trentham added.

The Yellowjackets close out the regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. versus Western Washington at Yellowjacket Field.  It will be Senior Day for two Yellowjackets as Chelsea Libby and Caitlin Differding will be playing their final game in a Yellowjacket uniform.