BILLINGS, Mont. – Freshman Erinn Harder made nine saves to help the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team pick up its first shutout of the 2017 season, in a 0-0 double-overtime draw against Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe Western Oregon University Thursday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.
 
Seven of Harder's stops came in the second half, including an intense sequence that proved to be the best chance to score by either side. With 25 minutes to go in regulation, a giveaway by the 'Jackets led to a dangerous chance by WOU in the box. Harder came off her line to save a close shot by Sydney Thomas, and then popped up for a diving stop on a follow-up strike by Dacia Alexander. With the ball still loose, Courteney Shovlin blocked a final attempt by Alexander off the goal line as MSUB dodged a bullet.
 
"This was certainly not our best performance as a team, but we can thank Erinn for the result today," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "She made some phenomenal saves to keep the shutout. We lacked technical consistency, and we will certainly need to be better on Saturday."

WOU goalkeeper Caitlin Kastelic came away with five saves in match for the visitors, to earn her third shutout of the season. The Wolves moved to 2-7-2 overall and 1-4-2 in conference action this season.
 
MSUB (2-9-2, 1-5-2 GNAC) carried some early momentum, but managed to turn its possession into just three shots in the opening 45 minutes.
 
The 'Jackets looked promising on three first-half corner kicks, as deliveries by Claire Tevaseu, Alycia Wright, and Alexa Iacolucci were placed well inside the six-yard box on the far post. A finishing touch was absent

however, as WOU managed to keep MSUB out of the net on the set plays.
 
WOU benefitted from a handful of offensive chances early in the second half, winning set pieces deep in the attacking third after fouls by the 'Jackets. Tomasini kept constant pressure on Harder and MSUB's back line, directing multiple shots towards goal in the first 15 minutes of the period.
 
The Wolves continued to turn the tables in terms of dead ball opportunities, winning four corner kicks and allowing none in the second half of regulation.
 
Tomasini led all players with eight shots in the match, including four on target. One of her closest misses came on a long free kick from the top of the box, that carried just high over the crossbar.
 
Defensively for MSUB, sophomore Kalin Sandow and freshman Hallie Vervair performed soundly the entire match. Sandow turned in her sixth straight complete-game effort at center back, and Vervair played a season-high 106 minutes on Thursday at outside back. Senior Jessica Spang led the team with four shots, and managed to place two of them on frame in a season-high 98-minute effort.
 
For the Wolves, Kaitlin Poe, Deiziana Dargan, and Kai Mahuka each played all 110 minutes in the field.


THE BUZZ: Harder was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 10-8-4 all-time against WOU, and is 7-3-2 in home games against the Wolves…Thursday marked the second time this season the teams drew, after a 1-1 stalemate in Monmouth, Ore., on Sept. 23…it was the fifth time this year MSUB has been held without a goal in a match…the shutout was the first of Harder's career, and the first for MSUB since Sept. 24, 2016 in a 0-0 draw against Concordia University at Yellowjacket Field.
 
NEXT UP: MSUB hosts Concordia University on Saturday in its final home match of the 2017 season. Spang will be honored in a pregame ceremony on Senior Day, prior to a 2 p.m. kickoff at Yellowjacket Field. Live video and live statistics will be available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.