BILLINGS, Mont. – A youth soccer 'Jersey Day' will highlight an important homestand for the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team this weekend, as the Yellowjackets are set to host Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents Western Oregon University and Concordia University (Ore.) on Thursday and Saturday at Yellowjacket Field.
 
Children who participate at the U14 level and under in Billings' youth soccer programs are invited to receive free admission to Saturday's match if they wear their jerseys to the game. Magic City's U12 girls teams will accompany MSUB and Concordia players onto the field during the pregame walkout on Saturday. The youth teams will also participate in a scrimmage during halftime of the match.
 
Both matches will feature live video and statistics, available online via MSUB's Stretch Internet portal.
 
The Yellowjackets (3-1-1, 1-0 GNAC) are coming off of a strong 2-0 home victory over Northwest Nazarene University last Saturday as MSUB opened its conference schedule with a shutout.
 
"It was a good game definitely and we talked about coming out strong at home," head coach Wojtek Krakowiak commented on his team's most recent match. "Not giving up a shot in the first half was outstanding by our team, and getting two solid goals always helps."
 
MSUB has now won two matches in a row, building off of a dramatic 2-1 overtime win at Academy of Art with its second shutout of the season last Saturday against NNU.
 

HOWARD NETS FIRST CAREER GOAL: Scoring for the first time in her two-year career with MSUB, senior midfielder Elizabeth Howard contributed what ended up being the game-winning goal in the match against NNU. Howard drove a long ball with the wind and watched as it sailed over the head of the Crusaders' goalkeeper and made the score 1-0 early in the first half.
 
Howard has started all five matches and has played every minute of the season as a central midfielder, contributing one assist to go along with her goal for three total points.
 
SPANG SCORES IN SECOND STRAIGHT MATCH: Adding an insurance goal in the second half, Jessica Spang beat a trio of defenders into the goal box and tucked a strong shot inside the far post to make the score 2-0 in favor of the 'Jackets. It was the third goal of the season for Spang, and she is tied for second in the GNAC in total points as she also has two assists.
 
"Jessica is doing very well," Krakowiak said. "Hayley Warren did a good job starting that play, and Jessica got the ball and outmuscled the defenders. Those finishes seem very easy from the sideline but they are not. You're under pressure, and there are a lot of things that can go wrong, but Jessica was very composed and it was definitely a good finish."
 
HOPPS EARNS SHUTOUT: Freshman goalkeeper Chloe Hopps improved to 3-0 with the victory on Saturday, and earned her first career shutout for the Yellowjackets in 90 solid minutes. Hopps was tested with three shots on target, making saves each time. Beyond dealing with direct shots, Hopps was faced with extreme winds in the second half, but maintained her ability to pass the ball accurately to her teammates and secure difficult crosses throughout the match.
 
"Chloe had a good game, and we count on our goalkeepers to keep us in the game," Krakowiak said. "There were very tough conditions for both teams, and Chloe was able to deal with them very well. She came out big a few times and was definitely solid on crosses."
 
SHADES OF 2014 DEFENSE: The Yellowjackets made history against NNU last season by holding the Crusaders without a shot for the entire match. This time around, MSUB replicated the feat through the first 45 minutes as NNU did not have a shot in the first half. Overall on the game, the Yellowjackets' back line limited the Crusaders' opportunities as NNU finished the match with just four shots total.
 
Kari Kastelic and Katlyn Lokay continue to anchor MSUB's back line in the center, as each player has not been subbed out through the first five matches of the season. Junior Lindsay Lucore earned the start on the outside last Saturday along with freshman Kienna Ogden, and Sarah Coghlan contributed to the clean sheet as an outside back as well.


"I definitely felt very comfortable with my back line," Hopps commented on the defensive unit playing in front of her. "We have two center backs and captains who are great leaders and are very comfortable out there. Our outside backs are also very comfortable out there so that reassures me when I'm in goal."
 
STARTING ON THE WRIGHT FOOT: Alycia Wright earned her second straight start at right forward on Saturday, as the true freshman has had an impact right away with a pair of goals on the

season. Wright has seen action in all five matches, totaling 319 minutes and the third-most shots on the team with 11.
 
MIDFIELD MINUTES: Junior captain Dana Lubieniecki made her fifth start of the season at the attacking midfield position on Saturday, and has seen the field for 459 minutes while scoring a goal so far this season. Directly behind her for the majority of the season has been junior holding midfielder Brittney Greenback, who has started four matches and is tied with Spang for the team lead in shots with 13.
 
"Defensively we have really been working on switching the ball and making smart decisions," Greenback said. "Chloe in the back was a huge help; she talks so loud and everybody can hear her. The biggest thing for me is just showing the new girls how physical the GNAC is and making sure that I am focused the whole game."
 
As a team this year MSUB ranks fourth in the conference in shots (80) and goals scored (8).
 
Thursday, September 24 – Western Oregon University Wolves – 4 p.m.
2015 Record: 4-2, 0-1 GNAC
Head Coach: Steve Ancheta, 5th season
2014 Record: 6-8-4, 4-6-4 GNAC
 
Beginning the season against No. 4 Western Washington last week, the Wolves suffered a 1-0 loss in their GNAC debut at home.
 
It was just the second defeat of the season for WOU, which had won three straight matches before the setback.
 
Returning all-conference selection Makana Pundyke is tied with Vicky Cruz Rosales for the team lead in goals scored with three this season. Rosales also has a pair of assists, and is tied with MSUB's Spang for third-most points in the conference with eight.
 
Mariah Konyn is a key returner in WOU's midfield, and the three-year starter has a goal and an assist to her name early on in 2015.
 
Former Wolves women's basketball standout Dana Goularte has suited up on the soccer field this fall, and has provided an assist while starting five matches and playing in all six.
 
In goal, Lindsey Mabinuori has started five matches and made 20 saves while compiling a goals-against average of 0.61.
 
As a team the Wolves have outscored opponents 12-3 under fifth-year head coach Steve Ancheta.
 
The Series: In 17 historical meetings between the teams, WOU holds a narrow 8-7-2 advantage in the alltime series.
 
Last Time Out: The Yellowjackets claimed a 1-0 victory over the Wolves on a goal by Lubieniecki and Spang provided the assist on Oct. 25, 2014 in Billings. The Wolves shut out the 'Jackets 2-0 in the first encounter of the Year, as Pundyke had a goal for the red and black in Monmouth, Ore.
 
Saturday, September 26 – Concordia University Cavaliers – 12 p.m.
2015 Record: 4-1-1, 1-0-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Grant Landy, 19th season
2014 Record: 18-2-2, 7-1-1 (CCC)
 
Making their GNAC debut on Saturday, the Cavaliers blanked Central Washington 2-0 at home in Portland, Ore. After making the transition to the conference and NCAA Division II level, CU has started the 2015 season strong with a 4-1-1 record.
 
Eight different players have scored for Concordia this season, with Karlie Hurley and Shannon McMahon leading the list with two goals each. Maddie Prehoda, Sydney Van Steenberge, and Gabrielle Ewing have each started all six matches and scored a goal for the Cavs, who have outscored opponents 10-3 this season.
 
Olivia Brock has seen the majority of minutes in goal for CU, making 11 saves and ranking No. 2 in the GNAC in goals-against average at 0.26 in four matches.
 
Head coach Grant Landy is in his 19th season in charge of the program, and led CU to perennial success at the NAIA level including a national championship in 2013.
 
The Series: Saturday's game will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. Concordia will be just the second school from Oregon MSUB has ever faced in regular season competition.