BILLINGS, Mont. – Four Montana State University Billings women's soccer players found the back of the net Saturday evening at Herb Klindt Field, as the Yellowjackets cruised to a 4-1 exhibition win over Rocky Mountain College under the lights.
 
Jillian Hust continued her torrid pace of play in the preseason, while Jackie Sharpe, Maddie Smith, and Sydney Torres each also found the back of the net. "This was a battle, and it always is against Rocky," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "It was a very physical game, and it was an excellent test for our team going into the GNAC. There are physical and athletic teams in our conference, so I think this was a great match for everybody."
 
"We had a hard week going into these two-a-days, and this was well-deserved," said Torres, who enters her second season in the MSUB program. "Everybody had high energy during practices, and going into this game I knew we would bring the energy back up."
 
Hust, who scored a hat trick in MSUB's scrimmage against Northwest College last Saturday, got the Yellowjackets on the board in the 15th minute after receiving a pass from Sydney Wate near the top of the box. Hust created space and tucked a low, left-footed shot inside the right post.
 
Taylor Gertsch came close to scoring three minutes later, sending a header off the crossbar amid a crowded goal box on a corner kick.
 
Seeing her first minutes of the season, sophomore Liberty Palmer came off the bench and made an impact offensively with a narrow miss on a header shot 10 minutes before halftime. The 'Jackets were content to take the 1-0 edge into the break, and it wasn't long before they added to their advantage.
 
Sharpe made the score 2-0 just three minutes into the second half, tucking a right-footed shot inside the far post just ahead of an oncoming RMC defender.
 
Rocky got on the board just two minutes later, when Halle Labert headed a cross from Laura Kellner off the left post and into the back of the net.
 
Fresh into the match, Torres helped the Yellowjackets respond as she gained command of a loose ball on the left side of the pitch. Turning towards goal, she curled a right-footed shot inside of the far post to restore the team's two-goal advantage. "We talk all the time about how as soon as you concede a goal you need to respond as a group," said Cavallo. "It was great to see us not hold our heads down when we gave up that goal, and it was a comprehensive win."
 
"For me it was like the goal of a lifetime, and it was something I have always dreamed of," Torres said. "Just knowing I was going to be able to go in after my injury I knew I was going to have to bring the intensity up for myself and bring my confidence back in. I was just happy everybody was here to celebrate it, and we had an amazing crowd here too."
 
The 'Jackets put the game to bed on a goalkeeping miscue by RMC, when a shot from Maddie Smith from the far right wing rolled into the back of the net.
 
"I am very happy with the four goals," said Cavallo. "It was good seeing Sydney Torres come off the bench and score an absolute screamer as she does. I'm happy with how we played defensively for the most part, and this is a performance we can really build on."
 
THE BUZZ: Torres was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.
 
NEXT WEEK: The Yellowjackets open the 2022 regular season hosting the Rimrock Classic, running Thursday and Saturday at Yellowjacket Field. The full schedule and live coverage for the event can be found online here.