Team Stats
BILLINGS, Mont. – A week after splitting a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches at home, the Montana State Billings women's soccer program will look to rebuild its momentum with a positive result at Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho this Saturday.
The Yellowjackets enter the weekend at 7-2-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference, falling out of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America national poll. The Jackets are still ranked fifth in the west region poll, just one spot behind Seattle Pacific and are still receiving votes in the national poll.
The Crusaders enter into the weekend with a 4-6 record overall and a conference record of 2-4. NNU is trying to rebound after a 3-2 overtime loss at Western Oregon a week ago.
MSUB started off last week with a 2-0 win over Western Oregon on Thursday, Sept. 30, after an own goal and a header into the back of the net by Jackie Hill (Boise, ID, Borah HS). It was Hill's first collegiate career goal.
Saturday wrote a different story for the Yellowjackets, falling 3-2 to a strong Saint Martin's team. The Saints came out firing in the first half, scoring a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes. Carly Valentine (Vancouver, WA, Skyview HS) got the jackets back within one after a late first half goal, and then Kari Foreman (Lakewood, CO, Bear Creek HS) scored the equalizer early in the second half. The Saints got the last word after a goal in the 70th minute got past Jordan Fenwick (Boise, ID, Boise HS).
Currently the Yellowjackets are led by Foreman's 10 points, four goals and two assists. She shares the team lead in goals with Jennifer Larsen (Mesa, AZ, Mountain View HS) who has eight points. Freshman Heidi Greenback (Woodinville, WA, Woodinville HS) has also tallied eight points with three goals and two assists.
The Jackets have scored 18 goals on the season while holding opponents to 10 goals. 11 of the 18 goals have coming in the second half while eight of the opponents have come in the first half. MSUB has a .689 shots on goal percentage while opponents are shooting .471.
Between the posts, MSUB has seen quality time from Fenwick and Sabrina Grandke-Bawab (Kirkland, WA, Juanita HS). The duo has a combined four shutouts on the season and has made 31 saves. Grandke-Bawab ranks third in the GNAC in goals-against average (0.681) and save percentage (0.808).
NNU, the Jackets only opponent of the week, enters the match being led by Autumn Yturbe who has three goals and two assists. Marie Smith is just behind Yturbe with three goals and one assist.
As a team, the Crusaders have 17 goals to their opponents 16 and have been outshot 110-108. NNU is shooting .167 as a team and has a 48-43 edge in corner kicks this season.
The Yellowjackets return home to Yellowjacket Field next Thursday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. against Central Washington and Saturday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. against Seattle Pacific. Saturday's match against the Falcons is also the Make-A-Wish game for the women's program, donating a portion of the gate to the foundation.
