By: Evan O'Kelly, Director of Communications
MSUB SPORTS – The Yellowjackets' top teams of the 2010s featured stellar defenses, and behind the back line resided some of the premier shot stoppers of the decade.
The all-decade team features the two goalkeepers who were on the teams that yielded the fewest goals of the decade, and these two are the only ones to play every single minute of a particular season during the decade.
This Week's Schedule
| Day |
Release |
| Monday, September 7, 2020 |
Women's Soccer - Forwards |
| Tuesday, September 8, 2020 |
Women's Soccer - Midfielders |
| Wednesday, September 9, 2020 |
Women's Soccer - Defenders |
| Thursday, September 10, 2020 |
Women's Soccer - Goalkeepers |
| Friday, September 11, 2020 |
Women's Soccer - Full Team |
The Starter
Danielle Gordon
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Atkins, Iowa
Playing Years: 2009-2011 (3 seasons)
Feature Story: Danielle Gordon: Seizing Her Opportunity (Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette - Sept. 30, 2011)
Gordon was dedicated to the MSUB program for three seasons in her career, and her time to shine came during the 2011 season when she played all 1,700 minutes in the net for the 'Jackets. After waiting in the wings as the reserve goalie during MSUB's regional run in 2010, Gordon stepped up to the task and had a record-breaking campaign in the net.
Facing 186 total shots, Gordon surrendered just 12 goals to post a goals-against average of 0.63 which still stands as the school single-season record. Gordon made 61 saves in that campaign alone, which is the eighth-highest career saves mark in program history. She collected eight shutouts – tied for third most in single-season history and ranking fifth in career history.
With Gordon at the back, the Yellowjackets went 11-3-4 and their .722 winning percentage was the best of the decade. She earned honorable mention all-conference, and she was also an academic all-conference selection.
Gordon on what she's most proud of: "That I didn't quit after five knee surgeries and multiple other injuries. My last year ended up being my best season after all, so pushing through to see that was worth every moment."
Wojtek Krakowiak (Gordon's Assistant Coach 2010; Head Coach 2011): "I really admired Danielle for her commitment to the program and her determination on the field. Her loyalty to the program was immeasurable and I am extremely proud that she found herself on the all-decade team. Danielle's never-give-up attitude and athleticism helped her to accomplish one of the most spectacular seasons in the program's history."
Where is she now? Gordon currently resides in Waterloo, Iowa, where she is a physical therapist assistant for Western Home Communities.
The Reserve
Krystal Daniels
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Kent, Washington
Playing Years: 2013-2014 (2 seasons)
Feature Story: Daniels Keeps The 'Jackets On Track Between The Pipes
Playing behind another back line featuring three all-decade defenders, Daniels notched similar success during the Yellowjackets' 2014 season. She played all 1,591 minutes in the net, and the team surrendered just 12 goals for a 0.68 goals-against average. Daniels made 40 saves on the season and, like Gordon, she recorded eight shutouts.
Daniels represented the final line of defense for a squad that went 11-4-2, finishing in second in the GNAC standings at 9-3-2 in league play. MSUB had a stretch of four straight shutouts from Oct. 18-Oct. 30, and Daniels' 364 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal ranks as the fifth-longest stretch in school history. Daniels also played in six matches during her junior season in 2013, allowing just three goals in 566 minutes and recording two more shutouts.
Daniels' 14 career wins are third-most in program history, and her 10 shutouts rank second behind only MSUB Hall of Famer Megan Plank (23 shutouts from 2003-2006). Daniels' 56 total saves are 10th most in school history, and she and Gordon are tied for No. 1 in the record books each with a career goals-against average of 0.63.
Wojtek Krakowiak (Daniels's Head Coach 2013-2014): "Krystal's work ethic, perseverance, and enthusiasm were qualities that captured my attention as a coach. Her athleticism and soccer IQ helped her to accomplish extraordinary feats in her two years at MSUB. Krystal's positive and welcoming attitude was extremely contagious, and she was an amazing role model."
Stephen Cavallo (Daniels's Assistant Coach 2014): "She had the ability to make saves on shots that you were certain would go into the net when they left the striker's foot. She was super athletic. She really cared for her teammates, and did a fantastic job in the 2014 season organizing the back line. She deserves a tremendous amount of credit for why we conceded so few goals that year."
About the MSUB All-Decade Team Project
The top student-athletes from each of Montana State University Billings' current varsity athletic teams from 2010-2019 have been selected, and 14 all-decade teams will be revealed throughout the course of the fall of 2020. Each sport's all-decade team is comprised of the top-performing student-athletes, with weight given to individual athletic achievement and accolades, team achievement, academic achievement, as well as community service. For more information on MSUB's all-decade project, and to view each sport's all-decade teams, view the all-decade project webpage online here.
