BILLINGS, Mont. – Playing its first match against a Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent since the fall of 2019, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team heads west to challenge Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-2) will then play at the College of Idaho on Friday, making it a two-game trip to the Gem State this week. "I think everyone is really pumped, especially to play a GNAC team," said redshirt freshman goalkeeper Clare Keenan. "This is something we have really set goals for and have been looking forward to. It's important because we have a lot of players – me included – who haven't seen GNAC teams yet. Getting to see what the GNAC level is like in the spring is going to help us transition into the fall."
 
Thursday's game against NNU is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff in Nampa, Idaho, with live video available online here and live statistics available online here. Friday's match is in Caldwell, Idaho, and will kick off under the lights at 7:30 p.m. Live video and live statistics for the match against the Yotes will be available online here.
 
"We are excited to get back into a couple of games," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "The game against NNU is awesome, just to finally get to play a GNAC opponent. It gives us a great chance to show our players what a GNAC game is like. NNU is a strong opponent, and it will be a good test to play them."
 
MSUB was last in action on March 7, enduring a 3-0 setback against the reigning Big Sky Conference champions and NCAA DI member University of Montana. This week marks the final road trip of the year for the 'Jackets, who will play their final four matches of the spring at home in Billings from March 24-April 11.
 
"I'm hoping we will be better in those game-winning moments, whether that's in possession in the final third, or stepping harder to shots in the defensive third," Cavallo said. "There has been a lot of good throughout our games, and now we just want to fine-tune things to make the good more consistent."
 
10 EARN ALL-ACADEMIC: A total of 10 players from the women's soccer team earned academic all-conference honors for the 2020-21 school year, announced by the GNAC office on Tuesday. The Yellowjackets had three players selected for the third time in their career, four repeat honorees, and three players recognized in their first year of eligibility for the award. "We recruit players who see the big picture, want to graduate, and want to be part of the campus community here at MSUB," Cavallo said. "They see it more than just coming here to play soccer, and they know that the more they invest in the classroom the better their experience will be here."
 
KEENAN KEPT BUSY AGAINST GRIZ: Keenan faced a barrage of shots last time out against the Grizzlies, and did her part with five saves in the match. It was the redshirt freshman's second straight game with five stops, and she has faced a total of 33 shots over the three matches she has played in this spring. "It has been a really fantastic experience," Keenan said on her first three games as a Yellowjacket. "I was kind of nervous at first transferring in, but the program has been so inviting and the level of play has been fantastic. It's really exciting to finally be playing games and getting to look forward to conference in the fall."
 
"Clare is a very strong goalkeeper," Cavallo commented on the newcomer between the posts. "She is very athletic, is a good shot stopper, and has good control of the back line. I think Clare is very hungry to be successful here, and we like what she brings to the team with her leadership."
 
GUNTER, CORBIN ANCHOR MIDFIELD: Juniors Haylee Gunter and Josie Corbin are two of the six players on the MSUB roster to have started all four matches this spring, as the duo has played a key role in anchoring the midfield unit. Joining Gunter and Corbin in starting all four matches in the midfield is true freshman Taylor Gertsch, who had a pair of shots in the team's match against Minot State and played 45 minutes against Montana.
 
BLOYDER, ROE LEAD OFFENSE: Up top, junior Lexie Bloyder and freshman Jordan Roe have each started all four matches and have combined to score three of the team's seven goals. Roe has found the net twice and has both of MSUB's game-winning goals, while Bloyder scored the fourth goal of her career in MSUB's game against Minot State.
 
Northwest Nazarene University Nighthawks
Thursday, March 18 – 6 PM – NNU Soccer Field – Nampa, Idaho
 
The Nighthawks are 4-0 this spring and are coming off a pair of 3-1 victories last weekend in home matches against Saint Martin's University. NNU started the year with a 2-1 overtime win over College of Idaho, before knocking off Idaho State University 1-0.
 
After Thursday's match, NNU will host Western Oregon on March 29 before coming to Billings for a rematch against the 'Jackets on April 8.
 
The Series: MSUB holds an all-time record of 19-8-2 against NNU and is 7-7-2 in road matches. The teams have split the last eight meetings a 4-4, dating back to the 2015 fall season.
 
College of Idaho Yotes
Friday, March 19 – 7:30 PM – Simplot Stadium – Caldwell, Idaho
 
College of Idaho has had a busy spring with eight matches under its belt and an overall record of 4-3-1. The Yotes enter their match against the 'Jackets having won three of their last four and out-scoring the opposition 12-3 during that span. Most recently, COI split a pair of matches at Rocky Mountain College with a 3-1 win on Sunday and a 2-1 setback on Monday.
 
After Friday's game against MSUB, COI will continue with Cascade Collegiate Conference play and host a pair of matches against Eastern Oregon University on March 28-29. The Yotes are 3-1 so far in their eight-game league schedule.
 
The Series: MSUB holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series against College of Idaho and are 0-1 in road matches. The Yellowjackets won both games between the teams during the 1997 season, and the only other match between the teams was a 3-1 win for COI on Sept. 18, 2016 in Billings.