MONMOUTH, Ore. -- The Montana State Billings women's soccer team ended their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference road trip of the season with a 1-0-1 record after earning a 1-1 draw with Western Oregon University Saturday afternoon at the WOU Soccer Field.

 

“We played alright today,” said interim head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “We started a little slow today, but the team did well to fight back and earn a draw on the road. I'm happy that we were able to pick up four points on this road trip and get that kind of a start to the conference schedule. Give Western Oregon a lot of respect, they are a much improved team and are really tough to play at home.”

 

Sophomore Heidi Greenback scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season as the Yellowjackets saw their record go to 4-1-1 on the year and 1-0-1 in the conference, while the Wolves moved to 2-2-2 on the season and 1-0-1 in conference.

 

Western Oregon struck first in the match as Kymberly Witmer took a ball that deflected off an MSUB defender and struck the ball from the top of the box to beat keeper Danielle Gordon in the 12^th minute. The goal was Witmer's first of the season and an unassisted goal.

 

Play went back and forth until the 36^th minute when sophomore Whitney Siler sent a cross into the box and found the head of Greenback who placed it perfectly on frame for the equalizer. Greenback has a goal in four of MSUB's six matches this season, and leads the conference in scoring.

 

The Yellowjackets had another try at goal in the 38^th minute as Jaucelyn Richter had an opportunity, but Brittney Rigtrup made a save to keep the match at 1-1.

 

The offense stalled out in the second half as the Jackets managed just one shot during the half, while the Wolves took seven, two of which required saving by Gordon.

 

Chances came for the Yellowjackets in the first overtime period as Richter had another chance in the 95^th minute, but Riptrup was there again for the save. Greenback saw her chance for the game-winner turned away by Rigtrup in the 97^th minute.

 

The second overtime saw Gordon making all of the saves, turning away a pair of shots by Lindsay Bauman in the 102^nd and 104^th minutes.

 

WOU outshot the Jackets 14-7 in total shots and 6-4 in shots on goal for the match. MSUB held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks and Gordon (4-1-1) made five saves on the afternoon.

 

The Yellowjackets return home next week as they host Simon Fraser University on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 4 p.m., and Western Washington University on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 1:30 p.m. Both games will be webstreamed and will also have live stats available.