BILLINGS, Mont. – Wrapping up a stretch of four straight road contests this week, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team heads west to face Concordia University on Thursday and Western Oregon University on Saturday.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-5, 0-1 GNAC) will take on the Cavaliers in Portland, Ore., on Thursday night under the lights at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time. MSUB will then head down I-5 to Monmouth, Ore., to challenge the Wolves on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time. Both matches will feature live video and live statistics, available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.
 
"Last week's trip was a little rough for our group, but going back to Saturday against NNU I thought we put together probably our best half of the season," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "We have a really tough game on Thursday at Concordia under the lights, and it is a game our team is excited about. We are looking at Thursday's match as an opportunity to step up as a group, and get a result we can be really proud of."
 
MSUB is coming off a tough 1-0 loss at Northwest Nazarene University in its GNAC opener last Saturday, coming up just short against the Crusaders in Nampa, Idaho. The 'Jackets also had a 3-0 defeat at Carroll College last week in their final non-conference bout of the fall season. 

The Yellowjackets will use an upcoming six-game home stand as fuel for a pair of strong results this week, as MSUB's next three conference weekends are in the Magic City from Sept. 28-Oct. 14.
 
SANDOW STEADY AS STARTER: In just her sophomore season as a defender for the 'Jackets, Kalin Sandow has fully embedded herself as a rock along the back line. As a freshman in 2016, Sandow started all 17 matches and averaged 88.9 minutes per game playing as an outside back. Transitioning this season into the center back position, Sandow has continued the pattern of heavy minutes with an average of 80.7 while starting all six matches. The Murrieta, Calif., native has had three 90-minute efforts this fall, including most recently against NNU last weekend.
 
HEMMEN LOGS FIRST COMPLETE GAME: It was apparent that sophomore back Amanda

Hemmen was ready for a full fledged return to the field when she made her 2017 season debut two weeks ago off the bench. Fighting off an injury sustained during the preseason, Hemmen progressed to her first start of the year last Saturday at NNU, and never exited the pitch in her first 90-minute showing of the season. Like Sandow, Hemmen has been a mainstay on the back line since arriving on campus last fall, earning honorable mention all-conference after playing all 1,605 minutes of the 2016 season. "It felt really good to get the whole 90 minutes in (Saturday)," said Hemmen. "I was really happy to be back out there with my teammates for the whole game."
 
SHOVLIN STRONG ON OUTSIDE: Similar to Sandow and Hemmen, Courteney Shovlin is also in her second season starting as a defender, and has played significant minutes in all six matches this fall. She is coming off an 81-minute effort against NNU, and is looking to build off the third-most minutes played last season among returners to the squad this year.
 
HARDER DEBUTS BETWEEN POSTS: Making her collegiate debut last week was freshman goalkeeper Erinn Harder, who was tested immediately in facing 16 shots against Carroll. The Gig Harbor, Wash., native wound up making nine saves in the two matches, including five on six shots on target against Northwest Nazarene.
 
LOOKING FOR THE FINISHING TOUCH: The 'Jackets got off to a strong start to the year offensively, netting six goals in their opening three matches. The attack has stalled over the last week however, with just one goal for MSUB in its most recent three matches. Part of the reduction has had to do with limited chances, as the 'Jackets had 26 shots on target in their first three games (8.67 per game) compared with half that total in their last three matches.

'JACKETS PLAY WITH PRIDE: Many of the Yellowjackets will sport unique rainbow laces during this week's matches, supporting the United Soccer Coaches' LGBT Coaches and Allies Member Group. Players across the NCAA will wear the special laces during games from Sept. 18-24, in recognition of Play With Pride week. For more information about the USC and Play With Pride Week, visit the organization online here.
 
Concordia University Cavaliers
Thursday, September 21 – 7:30 PM (PST) – Tuominen Yard – Portland, Ore.
2017 Record: 3-2-1, 0-0-1 GNAC
Head Coach: Grant Landy, 21st season
2016 Record: 10-4-3, 5-4-3 GNAC (5th place)
 
Opening conference play with a scoreless, double-overtime draw at Central Washington on Sunday, the Cavaliers are looking to build on a strong finish to their non-conference schedule as league play begins. Under 21-year head coaching veteran Grant Landy, the Cavs defeated PacWest Conference opponents Hawaii Pacific and Cal Baptist and CCAA foe San Francisco State each by the score of 2-1.
 
CU has been out-scored by opponents 9-7 in the early going, with three different players contributing a pair of goals. Returners Sydney Van Steenberge, Quinn Williams, and Gabrielle Ewing are at the top of the score sheet, and Jennifer Aguirre has contributed as well with a pair of assists.
 
Defensively, the 'Cavs are captained by three-year letterwinner Martha Heaps, who has started all six games as a center back. Fellow fourth-year senior defender Ana Delgadillo, the reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Week, has made a strong return to the pitch over the last two weeks, playing upwards of 100 minutes in each of CU's last two overtime matches.
 
Anna Miller and Shannon Peth have split time in goal, with the former starting the team's most recent matches and owning a solid 0.99 goals-against average.
 
The Series: The 'Jackets are yet to record their first win in the young history of the series between the teams, holding an 0-1-2 record in three matches dating back to 2015. MSUB's lone loss in the series came in Portland during the 2015 season.
 
Last Time Out: The teams met once a season ago, and played a hard-fought, double-overtime match that resulted in a scoreless draw at Yellowjacket Field on Sept. 24, 2016. Hemmen, Sandow, and Shovlin each played all 110 minutes to help secure the shutout.

Western Oregon University Wolves
Saturday, September 23 – 11:30 AM (PST) – WOU Soccer Field – Monmouth, Ore.
2017 Record: 1-4, 0-1 GNAC
Head Coach: Steve Ancheta, 7th season
2016 Record: 5-11-1, 2-9-1 GNAC (7th place)
 
The Wolves' lone victory this fall came in shutout fashion, with a 2-0 triumph over Chaminade on Sept. 10 in Hawaii. Most recently, WOU lost to No. 1 Western Washington 7-0 in its conference opener last Saturday in Bellingham, Wash.
 
Alyssa Tomasini leads WOU's offense with two goals and one assist, including the game-winner in the Wolves' victory this year. Kennedy Clay, Kaili Brundage, and Dana Jacobs have each also scored for WOU.
 
In goal, returning veteran Caitlin Kastelic has played every minute of the year, recording one shutout and making 29 saves. Dacia Alexander is another one of the team's top returners, having started all five matches in 2017.
 
The Series: The 'Jackets are 10-8-2 all-time against WOU and have won the last four contests. The Wolves however have the upper hand in games in Monmouth, with a 5-3-1 mark against the 'Jackets. MSUB claimed a 1-0 win on Oct. 24, 2015 in the last game at the WOU Soccer Field.
 
Last Time Out: MSUB took a decisive 3-1 result in Billings on Sept. 22, 2016. Jordan Devoto scored in the only game between the teams last year, and Alexa Iacolucci and Alycia Wright each had an assist in the match.