BILLINGS, Mont. – Pulling away in the second half on Saturday at Yellowjacket Field, visiting Seattle Pacific University rolled to a 3-0 victory over the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team in the opening game of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference season.
After one of the Yellowjackets' most well-played halves of the season, in which a sound defensive presence limited the Falcons to just two shots, the reigning GNAC champions kicked it into high gear and out-shot the 'Jackets 12-3 over the final 45 minutes. "We knew SPU would come out flying against us in the second half, and they increased the pressure," said MSUB head coach
Stephen Cavallo. "Nonetheless the team kept fighting and we saw some good performances off the bench. The focus with this group is to get better individually and collectively, and we are doing that. The first half of this game shows our group that we are a very solid team and can compete in this tough conference."
Marissa Bankey scored her first goal of the year and added an assist, while Sophie Beadle notched her second goal and Rylee Pierce tallied her first for the Falcons. SPU improved to 3-1-1 with the win and is now 1-0 in conference play.
The Yellowjackets slipped to 0-4-2 with the defeat and are 0-1 in conference play. "We are improving which is the most crucial thing," Cavallo said. "After our non-conference schedule we asked the team to improve defensively, and in particular the first half today we were fantastic."
The Yellowjackets' first promising chance towards goal came midway through the first half, when a long clearance by
Lauren Becraft carried over the Falcons' back line and into the goal box.
Sydney Torres found herself behind the defense, but SPU recovered just in time to knock the ball away before an open shot on goal.
The 'Jackets had another decent scoring look with 12 minutes to go before halftime winning a free kick deep in the attacking third, but a shot attempt by
Kailey Findlay carried high over the crossbar.
The Falcons opened the second half on the front foot, and took the lead in the first five minutes. A keen touch by Bankey on a high ball in the midfield led to a curling cross into the goal box where it found the foot of Beadle. The Falcon striker had an easy touch past Keenan to make the score 1-0.
SPU benefitted from a penalty decision three minutes later, and Bankey doubled the tally by converting the 12-yard strike into the lower-left corner of the net. "We didn't do a good enough job dealing with the cross on the first goal, and then we conceded what appeared to be a harsh penalty," said Cavallo. "All of this happened within the first 10 minutes of the second half."
Pierce's goal followed in the 67th minute, as she positioned herself well at the far goal post on a strike by Kayla Wallace and was able to tap the carom into the back of the net.
The Yellowjackets created some chances in the waning minutes, with
Sophie Sievertsen placing two shot attempts on target down the stretch. SPU goalkeeper Mercedes Cullen made all three saves required to collect her third shutout of the 2022 season.
MSUB goalkeeper
Clare Keenan had a strong performance between the posts, coming away with five saves and handling numerous other crosses into the box. Becraft was a difference maker on the back line in 74 strong minutes,
Abby Sena contributed a physical 83-minute performance at holding midfield, and Findlay played the full 90 minutes at center back.
THE BUZZ: Sena was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 4-24-3 all-time against Seattle Pacific and is 2-10-1 in home matches against the Falcons…the Yellowjackets received the services of returning all-conference outside back
Sydney Wate for the first time this season, who came off the bench for 47 minutes after missing the first five games with an injury.
NEXT UP: Conference play continues Saturday with a noon (Pacific) kickoff in a road game against Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. Live coverage for Saturday's match
can be found online here.
