BILLINGS, Mont. – Haylee Gunter scored the winning goal in the 72^nd minute and the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team held off Central Washington University 2-1 at frigid Yellowjacket Field Thursday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game. A defensive lapse cost MSUB a 1-0 deficit in the 12^th minute to CWU's Teanna Lathum, but a two-goal comeback, spearheaded by Alexa Iacolucci at the end of the first half and then by Haylee Gunter in the second, led the 'Jackets to home victory for the fourth time this fall.
 
"It was definitely a hard fought game today against a good Central Washington team, who we've struggled with in the past," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "To get a win in our last home game for this group of seniors feels really good. We went down in the game and made an unfortunate error which led to the goal, but we kept fighting and seized the opportunity off the rebound in the second half."
 
MSU Billings (5-8-2, 4-6-0 GNAC) kept their hopes of a GNAC tournament berth alive after coming out on top in a must-win contest. The Yellowjackets moved ahead of Northwest Nazarene for fifth place with the top-4 four teams set to qualify for the post-season. Central Washington (6-6-1, 4-4-1 GNAC) currently holds the final spot and remains one point ahead with one game in hand.
 
The 'Jackets outshot the Wildcats 13-5 and 8-4 in shots on goal. After regrouping on a failed corner, Emily Gaines looped a pass from near midfield and found Alexa Iacolucci in the center of the box for her first goal in the 45^th minute.
 
"Mikayla (Campbell) came in and gave us some big minutes and Haley German stepped up as well," Cavallo said. "We played offense by committee a little bit. I felt we could be sharper and better in the final third, especially with through balls and crosses, but it was awesome to see set pieces work out today. Haylee was in the right place at the right time and headed it in."
 
Momentum stayed with MSUB through to the 75^th minute, when Gunter found a rebound and buried her third goal of the season. The goal came seconds after Central Washington failed to clear a corner and Courteney Shovlin took the initial shot on goal.
 
"This win means a lot to our team," Gunter said. "I think this momentum will help push us on our upcoming road trip next week. In the game, we found space on the wings and we knew that we were capable of coming back to win. I think everyone played a role in today's win and it felt good to do it together."
 
The Wildcats recorded four corners in the second half but came up empty. MSUB goalkeeper Erinn Harder earned the win with one goal against and three saves. Emily Thomson made six saves in the loss for Central Washington.
 
THE BUZZ: Haylee Gunter was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for MSUB after scoring the game-winning goal.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets are off the remainder of the week, then hit the road for a pair of games November 7 and November 9 to close out the regular season. Should MSUB qualify, the GNAC Championships are November 14-16 at Interbay Stadium on the campus of Seattle Pacific University.