ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Haylee Gunter scored both of Montana State University Billings' goals in her final career match Saturday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium, but host Central Washington University claimed a season-ending 3-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference result.
 
The Yellowjackets equalized twice on Saturday, before CWU dealt the final blow early in the second half to end its season with a win on its home field. MSUB ended the year with a record of 7-9-3, and went 4-8-2 in conference play for 14 points and a sixth-place finish. Central Washington meanwhile finished the season 5-13 overall and 4-10 in league play to take seventh place with 12 points.
 
"I am very proud of our seniors, who really stepped up all season and saved their best play for the end," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "Lexie played through sickness this road trip, and Haylee and Ally connected for three assists to goals on the trip."
 
Sophia Keenan scored CWU's first two goals, before Emily Darcy netted the game-winner on assists from Keenan and Bella Brown. MSUB out-shot CWU 19-15 in the match, and placed 10 attempts on frame, but CWU goalkeeper Megan Fox came away with seven saves to help her team claim three points.
 
CWU struck directly after kickoff, with Keenan finishing a through ball from Sydney Lowe in just the fourth minute of the match.
 
Gunter took advantage of a miscue from the CWU back line in the 32nd minute, knocking home her second goal of the weekend to pull the score line even at 1-1.
 
Keenan struck again in the 38th minute, on another assist from Lowe. This time she punched home a one-time finish from inside the box to put the hosts ahead a second time.
 
With less than 30 seconds on the clock before halftime, Gunter once again helped her team pull level. She received a through ball from fellow senior Ally Findlay and chipped home the 12th and final goal of her MSUB career. "This wasn't exactly the way I saw my senior year ending, but I am just super grateful to end the season putting away some goals and for teammates who always pushed me to be my best," said Gunter, the reigning GNAC Player of the Week. "I can't wait to see what they can do next year with the amount of talent they have. My time here at MSUB has truly changed me into someone that would be unrecognizable four years ago. I don't regret a single moment I spent here."
 
Eleven minutes into the second half, Darcy tucked home a loose ball after a shot by Brown that was saved by MSUB goalkeeper Tuva Sallvin, for what was the final goal of the afternoon.
 
Findlay played all 90 minutes in the final match of her collegiate career, turning in her second assist of the season. "Although it was a tough road trip, and we didn't get the results we wanted, I'm grateful to pay my last two collegiate games with this team," said Findlay, whose younger sister Kailey was a freshman on the squad this fall.
 
Lexie Bloyder was MSUB's other senior on the field Saturday, and she ended her collegiate career playing all 90 minutes as well. "I am very grateful for my time at MSUB as I have grown immensely as a person and have been blessed with some great relationships along the way," said Bloyder, a Billings native. "I am very proud to have represented Billings and Montana."
 
Sydney Torres had a career-high eight shots including four on target for the 'Jackets, while Jordan Roe chipped in a pair of shot attempts including one on frame. "The season is over and we won't be able to go back and change any of the results, and we can only learn from it and get better," said Cavallo. "This team has the talent to compete, and it is frustrating we didn't get more wins in conference this year."
 
THE BUZZ: Gunter was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Gunter finished the season as MSUB's leading goal scorer with six…MSUB and CWU split the 2021 series, with the 'Jackets winning 2-1 in Billings on Sept. 25…MSUB is now 13-17-1 all-time against CWU and holds a 4-10-1 record in matches played in Ellensburg.