Box Score NAMPA, Idaho – Allowing its first goals in four matches, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team dug itself out of a 2-0 hole for a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Northwest Nazarene in the final Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season game of the year on Saturday at the NNU soccer field.
 
Chelsea Shuman scored the Yellowjackets' first goal in the 75th minute, and Katlyn Lokay scored both the equalizer and the game-winner to will MSUB to its fifth-straight victory. With five minutes remaining in the second overtime period, Lokay finished a shot from 20 yards out into the goal to end the game.
 
"Today was a true example of what MSUB women's soccer is made of," said Yellowjacket head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. "I am very proud of the team for their never-give-up attitude. NNU is a well-coached team and to come back from being down two to zero against them really shows our team heart and chemistry."
 
The Yellowjackets (11-3-2, 9-3-2 GNAC) found themselves down early in the match, as Lexi Fesenbek scored in the fourth minute on a penalty kick. Another score in the 26th minute by Nicole Nsa marked just the second time all season that MSUB had trailed by more than one goal.
 
NNU (4-11-3, 3-10-1 GNAC) held off MSUB until the 75th minute, but the 'Jackets scored the next three goals of the match to shock the Crusaders and continue their current five-game winning streak. "The team dug deep and found a way to come back and walk away with a win on the road against a quality opponent," Krakowiak said.
 
Lokay had the first shot on target of the game for the 'Jackets, forcing NNU keeper Daniele Ortiz to make a save in the fourth minute.
 
The Crusaders won a pair of corner kicks after taking the lead, but neither resulted in a serious attempt towards goal.
 
Amanda Perri uncorked a shot on frame in the 16th minute, and Shuman followed with one a minute later. Both were knocked down by Ortiz, as each of MSUB's first three attempts were on the frame of the goal.
 
Winning another corner kick in the 26th minute, Fesenbek served in a cross that found Nsa. The latter finished the second goal of the game for the 'Saders, as Fesenbek upped her GNAC-leading assist total on the year to 12.
 
The 'Jackets had two-straight shots blocked by the NNU back line minutes later, as attempts by Alisa Sagdahl and Brittney Greenback were stopped by the defense.
 
Sagdahl had another shot in the 32nd minute, and Ortiz came up with another save to keep the lead in the hands of NNU. The 'Jackets followed with three more shots to close the first half, but missed the target on each as the score sat at 2-0 at the break.
 
Shuman pressured the Crusaders' back line out of the break, forcing Ortiz to make a save less than a minute into the second half.
 
Winning its fourth corner kick of the match four minutes later, Makena Dandley nearly scored another goal for NNU but MSUB goalkeeper Krystal Daniels made her first save of the match.
 
Continuing to pressure the goal, Shuman again tested Ortiz who made another save on a shot in the 62nd minute.
 
The persistence finally paid off for the senior, as she redirected a cross from Sagdahl into an open net in the 75th minute to get MSUB on the board.
 
Coming through for MSUB in the 84th minute, Lokay found an equalizer for the 'Jackets with her third goal of the season, also on a pass from Sagdahl.
 
Neither team broke through in the opening overtime period, and with time winding down in the second Lokay sent her team to victory with the final goal in the 105th minute.
 
On the match MSUB totaled 28 shots and allowed nine, and the team placed 16 shots on target. Ortiz wound up with 13 saves for NNU, while Daniels collected three on the match. Shuman led all players with six shots, five of which were on frame. She also had an assist, setting up Lokay's final goal. Sagdahl was credited with the assist on each of MSUB's first two goals.
 
"Chelsea, Katlyn and Alisa each had an excellent performance today in the attacking end," said Krakowiak. "We were very dangerous today and created a lot of chances. I am very pleased with the team effort and the amount of heart we showed today."
 
THE STREAK: The Yellowjackets' four defenders and goalkeeper finished the regular season having played every single minute. Seniors Jennifer Johnson and Jessie Mancilla and sophomores Haley McFarlane and Kari Kastelic have not left a single match so far in 2014, and senior goalkeeper Daniels has been behind them for every minute as well.
 
No. 2 SEED: With the win MSUB clinched the No. 2 seed in the GNAC tournament and will face No. 3 seed Seattle Pacific in the first round on Nov. 6. In the teams' previous two meetings this season, MSUB notched a 2-1 comeback win in Billings and battled SPU to a scoreless double-overtime draw in Seattle. Both posting identical 9-3-2 records in conference play this season, MSUB earned the edge over the Falcons in seeding by virtue of its 1-0-1 head-to-head record against SPU.
 
AHEAD: After completing its regular-season schedule, MSUB is headed to Tukwila, Wash., next week for the 2014 GNAC Championships.