Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – It took six extra minutes, but Montana State Billings sophomore Jaucelyn Richter (Billings, MT) scored her third goal of the season to help lift the Yellowjackets past Northwest Nazarene, 1-0, Saturday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match.

With the win the Yellowjackets improve to 8-2-1 overall and 5-2-0 in GNAC play. The Crusaders fall to 4-7-0 on the season and 2-5-0 in conference with the loss.

“I was really pleased with our team today and how they fought hard for 96 minutes,” said head coach Don Trentham. “Anytime you can go on the road in the GNAC and get a win, it's a big win. I thought our defense played a very solid match again today. The times that we had a defensive breakdown the girls were in position to make a tackle and decrease the threat.

The Yellowjackets tried to mount an offense in the first half but weren't able to cash in on the five total shots. Both teams were almost equal in the first half, taking identical shots and shots on goal, while the 5-3 edge in corner kicks went to the Crusaders.

MSUB had a great opportunity in the 87^th minute as freshman Heidi Greenback (Woodinville, WA) went one-on-one with NNU keeper Tanya Zickefoose, but when Greenback fired her shot, Zickefoose got a glove on the ball to make the save. Unfortunately, Zickefoose was out of the box, earning an automatic red card and forcing the Crusaders to play a man down the rest of the match.

Richter ended the match in the sixth minute of the first overtime as Sabrina Grandke-Bawab (Kirkland, WA) punted a long ball over the defense, bouncing into the left side of the box. Greenback corralled the ball and flicked it in to Richter as she finished the shot past Stacey Beckman to earn the Jackets victory.

“The goal was just a great team effort,” said Trentham. “Sabrina (Grandk-Bawab) just made a great punt once again and Heidi (Greenback) just made a great play to get the ball to (Jaucelyn) Richter who had a fantastic finish.”

For the match, MSUB held the edge in total shots (14-12), shots on goal (8-3) and corner kicks (5-4). Zickefoose and Beckman combined to make seven save, while Grandke-Bawab made three in earning her fourth shutout of the season and staying unbeaten with a 6-0-1 record.

“Again, we're really happy to come out on the road and get another conference win,” continued Trentham. “We've played well in the first half of the conference season and have done a great job of keep ourselves in position to make a run for the GNAC championship in the second half. It all starts with a pair of big games next week.”