BILLINGS, Mont. – Finding the net just two minutes before halftime, Agen Heffernan supplied the lone goal in a 1-0 victory by Montana State University Billings over visiting Central Washington University Thursday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.
 
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory was the first of the season for MSUB, which improved to 3-1-1 overall and 1-1-1 in conference action. With the loss, Central Washington fell to 2-5 on the season and 1-1 in GNAC play.
 
Finding the ball at her feet with less than three minutes until halftime, Heffernan pushed the 'Jackets ahead with a shot that found the net inside the near post.
 
"The goal from Agen was outstanding, give a lot of credit to her," said head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. "She works really hard in training, and today she got a chance and she put it away. It was an unbelievable shot, two minutes before halftime, and it gave us momentum."
 
Overall on the game, MSUB fired 11 shots while holding the Wildcats to three. The 'Jackets won three corner kicks compared with CWU's one, and MSUB goalkeeper Krystal Daniels made one save on the match to earn her second shutout of the season.
 
"Central is a good team that is very well-coached, so to get a win is always exciting," Krakowiak said. "We created a lot of chances today, and we have to give a lot of credit not just to our defense for holding them to three shots, but overall to the whole team. Krystal did well in goal, managing the game from the back, and we are very proud and happy with the win."
 
Katlyn Lokay intercepted a pass in the attacking third, and played a through ball to Alisa Sagdahl with less than 10 minutes gone in the match. The Yellowjackets' leading goal scorer carried the ball into the box and took a right-footed shot, but missed wide of the far post.
 
Building off of a counter attack on an MSUB corner, the Wildcats moved the ball across midfield as Keilin Farrand carried it into the corner. Before she could cross towards goal, Jennifer Johnson went in for a strong tackle to clear the ball out and remove the threat.
 
The Wildcats created a dangerous opportunity on a through ball into the box by Farrand, but a shot from Bailey Mackonik missed wide of the post.
 
With seven minutes to play before halftime, Jessica Spang unleashed a shot towards goal from the top of the 18-yard box, but missed high.
 
Elizabeth Howard played a high-arcing corner kick into the box several minutes later, but CWU goalkeeper Kayla Lipston used her height to snag it out of the air before it found a Yellowjacket head.
 
The Yellowjackets took the lead into the halftime break, carrying momentum and strong overall possession in the match.
 
Emerging from the break with the 1-0 advantage, MSUB kept the pressure on in the early minutes of the second. Chelsea Shuman carried the ball down the right side of the field, and it took a dive by Lipston to corral her cross into the box.
 
The Wildcats nearly equalized midway through the second half, as a header shot by Danielle Brandli bounced off of the crossbar. CWU kept the pressure on, as a cross by Lauren Duty found empty space near the far post but was not met by a pair of oncoming Wildcats.
 
MSUB kept its composure moving through the final minutes, defending well and preventing the Wildcats from making another serious threat towards goal.

AHEAD: The Yellowjackets entertain Seattle Pacific in more GNAC action on Saturday at home. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Yellowjacket Field. "It is going to be a tough game, and they are a very good team as well," Krakowiak said regarding the Falcons. "We just have to come out with the same urgency and passion, and we are going to do well."