BILLINGS, Mont. – For the first time in more than 15 months, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team will be on the pitch, as the Yellowjackets kick off their 2021 spring season on Friday at Rocky Mountain College.
 
MSUB, which last played on Nov. 9, 2019 in a 5-1 season-ending win over Saint Martin's University, had its 2020 fall season canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Friday's match at Rocky's Herb Klindt Field is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m., with live video and live statistics available online here. "We are definitely excited to have games on the schedule, and that was a challenge in the fall not knowing whether we would play a conference season in the spring," said head coach Stephen Cavallo, who begins his fourth year in charge of the program. "I want our players to go out there (Friday) and enjoy the game. I'm going to coach this game like I'm finally getting back to something that I love that has been taken from me, which means I'm not going to let the little things within the game bother me. We are going to focus on the bigger picture of just being able to play and enjoy it."
 
Friday marks the start of an 11-game spring schedule, as the Yellowjackets eagerly return to competition. "I expect to see a lot of nerves out there, it has been a long time for all of us," said junior captain Haylee Gunter. "I think people are really excited, and we will see a lot of creative play out there. We have a lot of newcomers that bring a lot of creativity to the team."
 
Among MSUB's spring schedule are five home matches, with the first taking place on March 13-14 in back-to-back games against Black Hills State University. MSUB will host Minot State University on April 3, and will close the year hosting Northwest Nazarene University and Carroll College From April 8-11. All home contests will have live video available online here and live statistics available online here. Per Great Northwest Athletic Conference mandate, no fans are allowed at MSUB home matches during the 2021 spring season. "We are looking forward to playing some games this spring," said Cavallo. "We view it as a way to play a game that we love, and the expectation is to have fun. We will obviously work on things, but especially in our first couple of games just getting back on the field again is going to feel like such a blessing."
 
Among MSUB's cast of returners are five seniors, four juniors, and five sophomores. Gunter is the team's top returner from the 2019 season, when she started all 17 matches and tied for the team lead with four goals while adding a pair of assists playing in the midfield. "I've definitely gotten more confidence from my freshman to sophomore year, and I'm looking forward to being there for the underclassmen and helping them with the transition (to the GNAC) as well," Gunter said. "This spring is going to be a good time for me to step up into that leader role."
 
Fellow juniors Lexie Bloyder, Lindsey Meyer, Emily Gaines, and Josie Corbin were each key role players for the 'Jackets in 2019, with Bloyder starting 14 contests and scoring a pair of goals. Senior Rachel Lythgoe is back on the roster as well to provide a key leadership role, after missing the 2019 season with an injury. Also back with experience for MSUB are sophomores Kiley Sandow and Ally Gockley, who saw action in 17 and 11 matches, respectively, as freshmen. "I am really impressed with how our players managed the challenge of the fall semester," said Cavallo. "We have all grown and learned a lot through this time with coronavirus, and I really believe that this team has come together despite the most challenging of circumstances."
 
The Yellowjacket roster features a swarm of newcomers, including 15 freshmen and four transfers. Junior-college transfers Ashley Tiffin, Ally Findlay, Cassie Southwick, and Kelsey Hogan will each bring the Yellowjackets two years of experience.
 
Four freshmen from Billings Skyview High School – Hailee Gertsch, Taylor Gertsch, Jordan Roe, and Lainey Bosch – and Jillian Hust from Billings West High School will make their hometown collegiate debuts in a Yellowjacket uniform. The Yellowjackets also welcome three Swedish players in Clara Lindberg, Emelie Moberg, and Vendela Andersson, while redshirt freshman goalkeeper Clare Keenan, who spent last year at Coastal Carolina University, is expected to play key minutes between the posts.
 
MSUB's other new faces include Sydney Wate, Ashley Cameron, and Izzy Menning from Washington, Rylee Wiediger from Hamilton, Montana, and Jasmine Marquez of Montrose, Colorado. "During the fall we did a lot of bonding, and it was super nice to use that time to get to know all the freshmen we have," said Gunter. "You just have to come into anything and be positive about it, and our team just tries to make the best out of what we have. Even though we didn't have a season in the fall, we have been working on everything whether it is just touches or getting back into shape."