BILLINGS, Mont. – For the first time in three weeks the Montana State Billings women's soccer team is hosting a home soccer match. The Yellowjackets, hosting their conference home openers this weekend, take on Western Oregon at 2 p.m. on Thursday, and then Saint Martin's at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, for Futbol Frenzy.
MSUB enters the weekend at 6-1-1 overall, 3-1-0 in the conference and are ranked No.23 in the National Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national top-25 poll. The Jackets are coming off two of the biggest wins in program history with 1-0 victories over Simon Fraser and then 20th ranked Western Washington on the road.
The Wolves enter Thursday's match with a 1-7-0 record overall and are 0-4-0 in the conference, while Saint Martin's is 1-7-0 on the year and 0-4-0 in conference play.
Last Thursday, MSUB was able to hold off Simon Fraser in typical northwest weather, driving rain and fog, to take a 1-0 road win after sophomore Jaucelyn Richter took a Kari Foreman pass up the left side and drove the ball past the Clan's keeper for her second goal of the season. With the win, Sabrina Grandke-Bawab collected her first collegiate career shutout.
Two days later the Yellowjackets traveled to Bellingham, Wash. and stung the Vikings of Western Washington with a 1-0 victory after Foreman tapped in a bobbled ball by the Vikings keeper. The win was the first over the Vikings in 10 tries.
The Jackets currently have three players with eight points; Foreman, Jennifer Larsen and Heidi Greenback are all tied for the team lead. Larsen has a team-high four goals, while Foreman and Greenback each have three goals and two assists.
Richter has five points on the season, two goal and an assists, but has had plenty of opportunities with a team-high 22 shots, 13 on goal. Samantha Sandau is right behind Richter with four points, including a goal and two assists.
As a team, MSUB has outscored opponents 14-7 overall, but overwhelmingly in the second half, 10-1. The Jackets have a 66.2 shots-on-goal percentage, taking 51 on the season, while holding opponents to a 45.6 percentage with 31 shots-on-goal.
Between the posts, Grandke-Bawab has had the quick hands and feet as of late, recording back-to-back shutouts and carrying a 4-0-1 record into the weekend. She has a goal-against average of 0.53, making 16 saves and allowing just three goals.
For Western Oregon, five different players have all five goals scored by the Wolves this season. Marina Austin and Rachelle Kliewer have a team-high three points with a goal and an assist.
The Wolves are averaging 9.13 shots per game and have a 52.1 shots-on-goal percentage. Brittney Rigtrip has seen the most time on the line for the Wolves, making 37 saves with a save percentage of 74.0.
For the Saints, Jenny Baker comes in as the teams' leader in points with nine, four goals and an assist. Behind Baker is Jill Webb with eight points, collecting three goals and two assists.
The Saints are averaging 8.75 shots per contest, scoring eight goals this season. Between the posts, Gina Cardenas has seen every minute of the season, making 49 saves with a save percentage of 69.0 percent.
The Futbol Frenzy festivities begin with a BBQ prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff for the men's match Saturday as all MSUB students with a valid school ID will be able to eat the BBQ for free. Non-MSUB students will be charged just $5 for the BBQ. General admission tickets for the game are $5, while senior citizen tickets are $3. Students in grades 7-12 also are admitted into the game for $3, as well as MSUB faculty and staff. MSUB students with a valid school ID are free, as well as students in grades K-6 and below.
