BURNABY, B.C. – An early goal by Western Washington University's Caitlyn Jobanek on a rebound header set the tone and three more in the second half sunk the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team in a 4-0 loss to the top-seeded Vikings in the first round of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships Saturday evening at Terry Fox Field on the SFU campus.
 
The Yellowjackets entered the match as the No. 4 seed, by virtue of finishing the GNAC portion of their schedule with a record of 6-5-1. MSUB finished the year with a record of 8-7-2 overall.
 
The Vikings, ranked No. 2 in the latest National Soccer Coaches' Association of America top-25 poll, pushed their record to 17-1-1 on the season and will advance to the GNAC title game against Seattle Pacific University on Saturday. The Falcons won the first match of the game 1-0 in double-overtime against Concordia University.
 
Jobanek scored again as part of a two-goal spurt with less than 10 minutes to play in the game, as she and Anna DeWeirdt each scored twice in the match.
 
MSUB's best chance came on a header by junior center back Kari Kastelic, as it took an incredible diving save by WWU keeper Ashley Haden to deny Kastelic in the 71st minute. The close call came on a cross from Dana Lubieniecki, who stuck with the ball after a cleared corner kick attempt.
 
"This wasn't the result we wanted but we took a risk to try to get a goal and we fought until the end," Kastelic commented on the game. "I'm proud of the entire team for the effort tonight and for making it to the GNAC tournament."
 
Brittney Greenback rattled the crossbar for the 'Jackets in the 63rd minute, firing a left-footed shot from 25 yards out.
 
WWU doubled its lead in the 63rd minute, as DeWeirdt finished her first goal of the game from 12 yards out. The 2-0 edge prompted MSUB to push forward in the waning minutes of the match, creating several breakaway chances for the Vikings in the closing minutes.
 
Jobanek and DeWeirdt scored within three minutes of one another with less than five minutes to play, as WWU eliminated MSUB and ended the Yellowjackets' season.
 
Overall, WWU held a 24-8 advantage in shots and placed 11 of its attempts on target. Yellowjacket goalkeeper Chloe Hopps wound up with seven saves in the match, while WWU's Ashley Haden had five. The Vikings won five corner kicks in the first half and held a 7-3 advantage in that category on the match.
 
Five different players had shots on target for MSUB, as Alycia Wright, Kienna Ogden and Elizabeth Howard each also put the ball on frame.
 
The match marked the end of the careers for MSUB's four seniors, Katlyn Lokay, Teegan Koster, Ashely Marra, and Howard. Lokay, a four-year senior, moved up to No. 2 in the MSUB record books in career minutes played. A four-year starter, she played every single match for MSUB over her four seasons.