BILLINGS, Mont. – Dana Lubieniecki scored a stellar free-kick goal in the opening five minutes of play and Jessica Spang added her first goal of the season for the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team, but visiting University of Mary battled back with two second-half goals in a 2-2, double-overtime draw Saturday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.
 
The Marauders (0-1-1) received goals from Megan Searson in the 48th minute and Michelle McGeary in the 62nd minute, and managed to prevent MSUB from scoring in the final 64 minutes of play.
 
MSUB moved to 0-3-1 on the season with the draw, and reached a season-high with 20 shots and nine on target. "I think we played a good game overall, the only thing missing was that third goal," MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak commented on the strong offensive showing. "We created a lot of chances, and we definitely improved from last game. I know the team wanted to win, but I am proud of them because they kept pushing."
 
Lubieniecki got the scoring started in the opening three minutes after Alexa Iacolucci won a free kick just outside of the goal box. The senior captain curled a perfect, right-footed shot into the upper-right corner of net, to give the 'Jackets an early 1-0 lead. "That was absolutely text book," Krakowiak said when asked about Lubieniecki's free-kick masterpiece. "This is the type of goal you see at the professional level. It was excellent."


 
The Marauders generated a pair of promising looks towards goal midway through the first half. McGeary rolled her first shot of the game wide of the left post, and immediately followed with an on-target attempt from the top of the box that required the first save by MSUB goalkeeper Lili Delgadillo. The sophomore stopper wound up with seven saves in the game, matching the total by UM goalie Hannah Smith
 
The 'Jackets continue to click offensively as the first half wound down, with Iacolucci finding Lubieniecki on a pass into the offensive third. After combining with Spang and Alycia Wright, Lubieniecki's cross into the box was snagged on a dive by Smith.
 
MSUB headed to the halftime break with a 1-0 cushion, despite being out-shot by Mary 4-2 in the opening period.
 
The 'Jackets opened the second half similarly to how they started the game, this time scoring less than a minute after the whistle. A deep cross by Iacolucci glanced off of the crossbar and Jordan Devoto freed up the ball for Spang to knock into the back of the net. "That play was a good build-up, and it was a good cross from Alexa," Krakowiak said regarding the team's second goal. "We tell the players to follow everything, and the ball fell in front of Jordan and Jessica for the goal."


 
The 2-0 advantage did not last for long however as the Marauders won a penalty kick after a hand ball in the box two minutes later. Searson calmly tucked a right-footed shot into the net, bringing the deficit to one goal. Mary was quick to capitalize again, this time exploiting a defensive breakdown by MSUB. Kylee Welch broke free along the right side and after a perfect pass into the box watched as McGeary punched home the equalizer from 12 yards.
 
MSUB nearly jumped ahead with 15 minutes to play, but Kari Kastelic's header on a corner-kick serve from Lubieniecki missed just wide of the right goal post. It was an example of several times that

Kastelic pushed forward from her center back position into the offensive third, as the senior captain finished with a pair of shots while anchoring the back line for all 110 minutes.
 
Playing through the end of regulation with the score still even, MSUB generated the best scoring opportunity during overtime. With less than a minute to play in the opening period, the 'Jackets won an indirect free kick inside the goal box from 16 yards out. Iacolucci blasted a shot towards goal, but it was deflected out for a corner kick by the Marauders' defensive wall.
 
"The team is clicking, and overall the team battled really well," said Krakowiak. "We stayed in the game mentally, and it was really good for us to do that for 110 minutes."
 
MSUB out-shot Mary 20-17 in the match, and each team placed nine shots on target. McGeary led all players with eight shots, while Iacolucci had seven for the hosts. Wright and Spang each had three shots for MSUB, and Welch also had three attempts for Mary. The Marauders held a slight edge with six corner kicks compared to four by the 'Jackets.
 
THE BUZZ: Kastelic was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Erin Reynolds made her first career start for the 'Jackets…the assist was the first in Devoto's career…this was the second overtime game of the year for MSUB, which lost 1-0 at Western State Colorado in OT on Sept. 3…the 23-game series between MSUB and UM remains exactly even, with each team having won 10 matches to go along with three draws.
 
AHEAD: MSUB remains at home to challenge the College of Idaho on Sept. 18 at noon. Live video and statistics will be available through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.