Box Score BILLINGS, Mont. – The second goal of the season by Kari Kastelic proved to be the difference for the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team on Thursday afternoon, as the Yellowjackets defeated Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Northwest Nazarene 1-0 on a soggy Yellowjacket Field.
 
Ashely Marra gathered the ball on the left side of the field, turned and fired a low cross towards the top of the 18-yard box. Kastelic ran onto the ball, took a touch, and finished a perfectly placed shot inside the far post to give the 'Jackets the 1-0 lead with seven minutes gone in the second half.
 
"Today's goal by Kari was a great finish," said head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. "She saw the ball, gathered it, and struck it well."
 
MSUB held the Crusaders without a shot on the match, while the 'Jackets peppered NNU with 14 shots and eight on target. MSUB won 10 corner kicks, while NNU managed four in the match.
 
"NNU is a good opponent, and I think we did a good job of creating chances," said Krakowiak. "We were pretty organized defensively, and give a lot of credit to the back four. Krystal Daniels came out big on a few occasions as well."
 
MSUB's defensive core was led by Haley McFarlane, Jennifer Johnson and Jessie Mancilla, who were joined by Kastelic in completing the shutout. "Haley is playing unbelievable right now," Krakowiak said. "She is a very, very smart player judging the ball in the air and winning the headers. Also she is great directing the back four and distributing from the back."
 
Early in the match, Chelsea Shuman unleashed a barrage of shots, keeping the pressure on NNU's back line.
 
Jessica Spang helped create a dangerous chance for the 'Jackets, playing the ball through to Shuman. The senior captain beat several NNU defenders down the right side, then threaded a cross into the six-yard box. Amanda Perri fired a point-blank shot on the play, but Ortiz came up with a huge save by knocking the ball over the crossbar.
 
The 'Jackets nearly broke through with 10 minutes left in the first, but the offside flag was raised to prevent what would have been a penalty kick.
 
McFarlane was instrumental in keeping the Yellowjackets' defense organized, winning several key headers on balls in the air.
 
The teams took a scoreless tie into the halftime break, with the 'Jackets holding the majority of possession in the first period.
 
It didn't take long for MSUB to break the stalemate in the second half, as Kastelic scored her second goal of the season less than 10 minutes in on the cross from Marra.
 
Shuman helped keep the pressure on after MSUB's goal, firing a left-footed shot from the top of the 18 that required a save by Ortiz.
 
The Crusaders won a corner kick with half an hour to play, but McFarlane cleared the cross with a strong header to prevent a scoring opportunity.
 
Dana Lubieniecki helped the attack with several quality through balls in the middle of the second, one of which nearly found the foot of Marra before the charging Ortiz secured it.
 
A corner kick service by Elizabeth Howard with 18 minutes remaining nearly paid off for MSUB, but Ortiz got her fists to it before it reached the Yellowjacket attackers.
 
Daniels stepped up big for the 'Jackets on an NNU corner kick a few minutes later, punching out a dangerous cross that was headed towards the six-yard box.
 
The Yellowjackets' defense held strong through the final whistle, preserving the 1-0 result for three conference points.
 
COMING UP: The Yellowjackets take on No. 22 Western Washington on Saturday, a battle that could determine which team will be listed atop the GNAC standings.