Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings women's soccer team has put together a strong 2012 campaign thus far. While splitting their matches this past weekend, the Yellowjackets have three consecutive seasons where they have 11 or more wins. Entering their final two games of the regular season, they have a chance to have the best season in program history.
 
The Yellowjackets are currently 12-4 overall and 8-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. On Thursday, Oct. 18 MSUB played the first match against Western Washington in the MSUB Kicks Cancer event. The Vikings came into the contest ranked No. 23 nationally and No. 3 in the west region by the NSCAA/Continental Tire polls. In the Oct. 23 poll Western Washington climbed to the No. 14 spot nationally and No. 2 in the west region.
 
MSUB is currently tied with California Baptist for the No. 7 slot in the west region in the NSCAA/Continental Tire poll. While the Yellowjackets played Western Washington tough the whole contest, they were unfortunately edged by their nationally ranked counterpart.
 
Even though MSUB lost a competitive match against a very good team, they came back unfazed in their Saturday match against Simon Fraser. In a rainy match that had a 30 minute lightning delay, Jaucelyn Richter's late second half goal helped defeat the Clan 1-0.
 
Saturday's event marked the 2012 Senior Day for Richter and five of her fellow teammates (Adrienne Biglow, Courtney Harvey, Kristen Kastelic, Jennifer Larsen and Janae Remsberg).
 
Richter's game winner and Larsen's defensive play the past two games help them earn Red Lion GNAC Player-of-the-Week honorable mention honors.
 
The 2012 senior class is one of the most successful classes in the program's history. Including Saturday's win they have a current overall record of 45-23-6 and Great Northwest Athletic Conference record of 30-18-4.
 
These seniors were a part of the 2010 team that won the most games in the program's history (13) and received the only bid to the NCAA regional tournament.
 
With these upcoming road games, the 2012 team has a chance to match and surpass the merits of the 2010 team. These feats will not come easy because Western Oregon upset MSUB in double-overtime at Yellowjacket Field in their first matchup.
 
In order for the Jackets to change the outcome from the Oct. 6 contest, they will need to be in sync offensively. MSUB has five players with three or more goals, and Heidi Greenback leads the team with seven scores on the year. Adding an assist she has a total of 15 points.
 
Richter is second on the team in points with 11, she now has 77 career points and moves up to the No. 2 spot on the all-time career scoring list in the program's history.
 
Harvey and the backline will have to pay close attention to Lindsey Bauman and Marina Austin as the combo have combined for eight goals scored in 2012 and Bauman scored the game winning goal in the previous contest.
 
After their Thursday match in Monmouth, Ore. the Yellowjackets will head to Lacey, Wash. on Saturday, Oct. 25 to compete against Saint Martin's University for their final regular season game. A Larsen penalty kick lifted MSUB over the Saints 1-0 in the previous meeting.
 
The Saints are 4-3 at home this season and will carry momentum into the Oct. 25 game after winning its most recent match against Central Washington.
 
Freshman Aiko Johnson, can also etch her name in the record books this weekend, she has the chance to tie Megan Plank for the most shutouts in a season (10) and past Plank in wins in a season (13). Johnson currently has 12 wins on the year and eight shutouts.
 
MSUB is currently ranked third in the GNAC standings, and if they finish strong this weekend they are a shoe in to appear in the inaugural GNAC Championship Tournament, held in Tukwila, Wash. at the Starfire Sports Complex on Nov. 1 - 3.