BILLINGS, Mont. – Digging a hole early on Thursday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team fell behind visiting Northwest Nazarene University 3-0 and couldn't recover in a 3-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference loss.
 
Alexa Iacolucci scored her team-leading fourth goal of the year on a penalty kick in the 73rd minute, but it was all the offense the 'Jackets could muster in a loss that dropped their record to 1-7-1 overall and 0-3-1 in GNAC play.
 
"This wasn't the start to our home stand that we were looking for," commented MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo on the first of six straight games for the team at Yellowjacket Field. "We need to come together as a team, put our heads down, and find a way to put together a more complete performance."
 
The Yellowjackets were out-shot in the match 9-6, but the Crusaders scored three times with just four shots on target. NNU improved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in conference action with the win.
 
Mabinty Kanu, Rikki Myers, and Emily Wilkens, the team's top goal scorers entering the day, lived up to their statistics with a goal apiece for the visitors. 

A corner kick 15 minutes into the match set up the opening goal, as Madi Taylor curled a cross towards the top of the box. Anita Maryskova let loose a strong shot that hit the crossbar, and Kanu was waiting three yards in front of the net to head the carom in for her third goal of the year.
 
The 'Jackets opened the second half with a promising scoring chance, when Kalin Sandow earned a free kick on the right side deep in the attacking third.

Iacolucci bent a high cross right on the back post, but MSUB couldn't get a touch on the ball for a shot attempt.
 
Opening the second half strongly and carrying the momentum, NNU made it 2-0 within the first 12 minutes. Beating her defender down the left side of the field, Maryskova ripped a shot on frame that MSUB goalkeeper Erinn Harder knocked away from close range. Myers, who scored the game-winning goal when the teams met two weeks ago, was waiting for the rebound, and had a simple finish into the back of the net.
 
Eight minutes later, NNU put the game out of reach with a creative attacking play. It was once again Maryskova at the core of the chance, as she used excellent vision to slot a long through ball into the attacking third. From there, Wilkins handled the rest as she ran onto it, dribbled into the box, and beat Harder in a one-on-one situation.
 
The Yellowjackets pushed back as time wound down, and broke through in the 73rd minute to avoid being shut out. Sophomore Amanda Hemmen was fouled inside the box on a corner kick, and Iacolucci's aim was true on the strike from 12 yards out.
 
Harder had one save for MSUB, while NNU goalkeeper Daniele Ortiz made a pair of stops to earn the win for the Crusaders.
 
THE BUZZ: Iacolucci was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Iacolucci leads the team with nine points this season…MSUB is now 17-7-2 all-time against NNU, and Thursday marked the Yellowjackets' first home loss against the Crusaders (10-1).
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets welcome No. 1 Western Washington University to Billings for another GNAC contest Saturday at Yellowjacket Field. Kickoff against the Vikings is scheduled for noon, on MSUB Kicks Cancer Day.