BILLINGS, Mont. -- On a gusty Friday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field, the Montana State Billings (1-0-0) women's soccer team dominated in a 2-0 victory over Colorado Christian University (0-1-0) to open the Ninth Annual MSU Billings Cup. The match was the season opener for both sides. 

“I'm really happy with the win today,” said interim head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “It's always good to get that first win and to win at home. I thought we did a great job in creating chances, but we looked very hectic in the first 15 minutes, and then did a nice job of controlling the match. Our defense did an outstanding job of diminishing their attacks and allowing just two shots.” 

The Yellowjackets were relentless on pressuring the Cougars defense as they took 18 shots and put nine of them on goal. Junior Jaucelyn Richter led the team by taking eight shots and putting seven on target for the match. 

After a scoreless first half, MSUB wasted little time in putting a crooked number on the board. After a foul by the Cougars put the ball about 25 yards out, Adrienne Biglow served a lofted ball off a set piece into the six yard box and found the left foot of junior Kristen Kastelic who snuck the ball just past the right post. 

“I was proud of Kristen for getting her goal,” said Krakowiak. “I've talked to her about whenever she gets her chances that she needs to take them. She's worked really hard on her shooting and her overall footwork, so it was nice to see her score in that situation.”

Leading 1-0, the Jackets again found the back of the net in the 64^th minute when Richter sent a through ball from the near side into the middle of the pitch, finding an open Heidi Greenback. The sophomore made one move to beat her defender and slid the ball to the right of a sliding Cougar keeper. 

“That second goal was a true team effort,” Krakowiak continued. “The girls just made the right passes into the right space and Heidi did a great job in finishing the goal.”

MSUB had issues in breaking CCU starting goalkeeper Caitlyn Moses as she made seven saves in the first half. After coach Tammy McPherson made a switch at the half, the Jackets were able to get to sophomore keeper Mackenzie Averill, who made two saves of her own.

Senior Danielle Gordon stood tall between the posts for the Yellowjackets as she made two saves as they were the only shots the Cougars would get off during the afternoon. The win for Gordon was the first of her career at MSUB and was her first shutout.

The Yellowjackets took two corner kicks, while the Cougars had one, and MSUB committed 11 fouls to the Cougars four. One yellow card was issued to Abby Larsen for delay of game.

MSUB is back on the pitch tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. when they take on Southwest Minnesota State. The match is the second of three in the Ninth Annual MSU Billings Cup presented by the Best Western Clock Towner in.