BILLINGS, Mont. – Set to make its 2021 home debut this weekend, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team hosts the Seventh Annual Rimrock Classic in Memory of Trevor Wildberger at Yellowjacket Field.
 
The four-game tournament kicks off on Thursday afternoon and wraps up on Saturday afternoon with Black Hills State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead, and University of Mary joining the Yellowjackets for the event. "It is great to be home, and these first two games are a chance for us to set a standard of how we want to play here in Billings," MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo said on the team's home opener. "Hopefully we are just continuing to grow like we have in the three games on the road trip."
 
2021 Rimrock Classic in Memory of Trevor Wildberger - Schedule
Thursday, September 9
1 PM – Black Hills State vs. University of Mary
4 PM – MSU Billings vs. MSU Moorhead
 
Saturday, September 11
12 PM – Black Hills State vs. MSU Moorhead
3 PM – MSU Billings vs. University of Mary
 
The Yellowjackets (1-1-1) will square off against Minnesota State University Moorhead on Thursday at 4 p.m., before hosting a rematch of Monday's double-overtime encounter against the University of Mary at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. All four matches will feature a live video stream through the MSUB Sports YouTube channel online here, and live statistics available online here. "I'm so excited to finally be at home after that long trip," said sophomore defender Cassie Southwick. "I feel very connected with all of my teammates, and I see a lot of chemistry out there. I'm excited to rip some on net and get our chances on goal this time."
 
MSUB is coming off its three-game, season-opening road trip last week, emerging with a win over University of Nebraska Kearney, a loss to Northern State University, and a draw against the University of Mary. This week will mark the final non-conference matches of the season, before the 'Jackets jump into Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Sept. 23 at Seattle Pacific University. "I thought the team showed a lot of grit and commitment through a tough road schedule," said Cavallo. "It was good competition that we played, and the game against Mary showed our true character as a team. We were really working hard with our third game in five days, but we felt like we had tons of energy and really played our best."
 
"Our last game went into overtime and we were all playing pretty strong, and it felt like a really good game for all of us," Southwick commented on Monday's match. "It didn't look like we were tired at all, and we talked about being focused up and in tune with each other on our defensive line."
 
ROE NETS FIRST GOAL OF SEASON: Second-year freshman Jordan Roe tucked home her first goal of the season on Monday, scoring the important equalizer in the 74th minute in the eventual 1-1 draw against the University of Mary. After she led the team in scoring during last spring's modified schedule, Roe upped her total to four goals through the first 11 matches of her collegiate career.
 
SMITH'S FIRST GOAL A WINNER: True freshman Maddie Smith made her first-career goal count, as she scored the game-winner in the team's 1-0 shutout victory over University of Nebraska Kearney. Smith's finish came in the 67th minute and gave the Yellowjackets their first victory of the season. The Kent, Wash., native saw action in all three matches last week, and placed all three shots she took on target.
 
SALLVIN, KEENAN SOLID IN GOAL: The goalkeeping tandem of Clare Keenan and Tuva Sallvin combined to allow just two goals through the team's first three matches of the season, as the 'Jackets relied heavily on their shot stoppers over the opening weekend of play. Sallvin made eight saves in MSUB's victory over Nebraska Kearney, as she collected her first win and shutout in an MSUB uniform. Keenan meanwhile had five stops and played all 110 minutes in the match against Mary, after making four saves in the season opener against Northern State.
 
BACK LINE TAKING SHAPE: The Yellowjackets' defensive unit also played a big part in the team surrendering just two goals last week, with center backs Hailee Gertsch and Vendela Andersson handling the majority of the minutes in the middle of the pitch. Cassie Southwick, Lexie Bloyder, Sydney Wate, and Kiley Sandow each also contributed as outside backs, with Bloyder providing the assist on Smith's game-winning goal. "This is the most I've ever felt connected on a defensive line, and I think it has to do with us always communicating," Southwick said. "We know when to step, we know when to stay back, and I think we have the perfect chemistry on the back line."
 
"She has come back in her second season with us with tons of energy, and I think we are getting to see the real Cass Southwick," Cavallo said. "She is super positive, believes in her teammates, pushes her teammates to be the best they can be, and just brings constant energy."
 
PALMER WREAKING HAVOC: True freshman Liberty Palmer has firmly established herself as a pivotal part of the Yellowjacket offense, and has been at the forefront of numerous scoring chances thus far. She provided the assist on Roe's game-tying goal, and her 222 minutes played last week were the most among any attacking player. Palmer also leads the team with nine shots and six shots on target.
 
IN LOVING MEMORY OF TREVOR WILDBERGER: The Rimrock Classic, which was first played during the 2014 season, was dedicated to the late Trevor Wildberger beginning with the 2015 event. Wildberger committed to the Yellowjacket men's soccer team and would have been a freshman in the fall of 2015, but lost his battle with cancer. The annual tournament – played by both MSUB's men's and women's teams – is dedicated to the memory of Wildberger and to his parents Jon and Tammi. "Jon and Tammi have been incredible role models and friends for me, and this is a great opportunity to learn from them," Cavallo said. "They have suffered tragedy in their lives with the loss of Trevor, yet still have such giving souls and a positive outlook in even the most difficult times. It is a good moment to put everything in perspective. We are lucky to play the game, and we are going to do our best to honor Trevor by playing our hardest until the last minute."
 
Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons
Thursday, September 9, 2021
2021 Record: 0-1
Head Coach: Christie Kopietz (6th season)
 
The Dragons dropped their season opener 1-0 to Nebraska Kearney as the matchup on Thursday against the Yellowjackets will be their second game of the season. The team went 0-5 during its modified schedule during the spring of 2021.
 
Junior forward Mckenzie Ickert is the team's leading scorer from 2019 – its last full season on the pitch – as she scored three goals and added three assists for nine points. The youthful squad features 17 upperclassmen and just four seniors, with Kaylee Parsons and Jennifer Wickman returning after starting all 18 matches during the 2019 campaign.
 
The Series: Thursday will be the second-ever meeting between the teams and the first in more than 20 years. MSU Moorhead won the only other game, with a 6-0 rout on Oct. 18, 1997.
 
University of Mary Marauders
Saturday, September 11, 2021
2021 Record: 0-0-1
Head Coach: Sarah Cook (10th season)
 
The Marauders will take on Black Hills State Thursday in their second match of the season, before the rematch against the Yellowjackets in the Rimrock Classic finale on Saturday. Mary went 2-2 during the modified 2020-21 schedule, and had a strong 11-4-3 record in 2019 during its last full season on the pitch.
 
Emma Davies, who scored the team's lone goal in Monday's game against MSUB, totaled eight points with three goals and a pair of assists during the 2019 season. Senior Hannah Richter was the top scorer for the squad in 2019, with seven goals and five assists for 19 points. Maureen Sullivan is also back after contributing five goals two falls ago.
 
The Series: The extraordinarily even series now sits at a balanced 11-11-4 after Monday's draw, as the Marauders and Yellowjackets have a 26-match history dating back to MSUB's inaugural season in 1996. The Yellowjackets are 3-1-3 over the last seven meetings dating back to the 2013 season
Last Time Out: Monday's exciting double-overtime match will be fresh in the minds of both teams' players in what figures to be a thrilling rematch on Saturday to decide the season series.