LACEY, Wash. – Three different Montana State University Billings women's soccer players scored on Thursday afternoon at the SMU Soccer Field, as the Yellowjackets rolled to a 4-1 victory over Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Saint Martin's University.
 
Amanda Grimshaw and Jessica Spang each scored in the first half to help give MSUB a 3-0 edge at the break, and the burst of offense was all the 'Jackets needed to snap a three-match winless streak. Alexa Iacolucci chipped in her team-leading fifth goal of the year with four minutes to go in the match, helping MSUB improve to 3-10-2 overall on the year and 2-6-2 in GNAC play with the win.

"This was a total team effort, and it was awesome to see so many players step up and contribute big minutes," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "Amanda scored an absolutely brilliant goal, and it was awesome to see Jessica reach double digits in career goals today."
 
The Saints fell to 1-12-1 with the loss, and are now 1-7-1 in conference play. Dulce Armas scored the lone goal of the afternoon for SMU, which matched MSUB shot-for-shot at 12-12 overall in the game.

Freshman Erinn Harder had four saves in the net for the 'Jackets, while center backs Kalin Sandow and Amanda Hemmen each played a full 90 minutes in the defensive effort.

MSUB avenged a 2-0 shutout loss to Saint Martin's at Yellowjacket Field on Oct. 7, and claimed their second conference victory of the 2017 season.
 
The Yellowjackets pushed ahead midway through the first, on the second goal of the season by Grimshaw. The freshman gathered in a pass from Iacolucci, and slotted home the first goal of the afternoon to give MSUB a 1-0 edge.
 
Grimshaw had another look towards goal with 14 minutes to go in the first, but a left-footed shot from the top of the box after a near miss by the 'Jackets from close range was just wide of the left goal post.
 
Spang doubled MSUB's tally just before halftime, lifting a left-footed shot from the left side of the goal box over the head of SMU goalkeeper Sara Christensen and under the net. The pass came from freshman midfielder Madison Browne, for her first assist of the season. Less than two minutes later, a miscue by the Saints resulted in an own goal after a shot by Samea Aljundi that hit the goal post.
 
Mackenzie Breeden came inches away from her first career goal 10 minutes into the second half, but the Saints managed to clear out a wild loose ball just feet away from the goal line.
 
The Saints refused to give up, and won their first corner kick of the half in the 61st minute. The 'Jacket defense handled the pressure and cleared the ball away, and watched as an ensuing long free kick by SMU carried out of bounds for a goal kick. Armas netted a stellar goal with 17 minutes to play however, blasting a half-volley from straight on at the top of the box over the head of Harder to make the score 3-1.
 
Adding her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the 86th minute to put the game away, Iacolucci sealed the lopsided win for the 'Jackets.
 
Christensen finished with five saves for SMU, while Rose Robbins and Daeh Lindquist each played the full 90 minutes defensively. Lauren Allison led the Saints with four shots in the match, a figure matched by MSUB's Iacolucci.
 
THE BUZZ: Iacolucci was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of Game…Browne's assist was her first career point…MSUB is now 12-7-2 all-time against the Saints and is 6-3-2 in road contests…the goal was the 10th of Spang's career and her second of the season…the game-winner was Spang's second of the year and fourth of her career…all three of MSUB's wins this season have been by the score of 4-1.
 
NEXT UP: MSUB challenges Seattle Pacific University on Saturday at 3 p.m. Mountain Time at Interbay Stadium. Live video and live statistics will be available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.