BELLINGHAM, Wash.  – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team concluded it's season Saturday in Bellingham, falling 1-0 to Western Washington in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
It marked the end of the season for the Yellowjackets (5-9-3, 4-8-2 GNAC), who finished with 14 points in GNAC play this season, a three point improvement from last season's conference total, while collecting two more wins than last season. The Yellowjackets played the Vikings (11-4-4, 9-2-3 GNAC) tough, attempting nine shots overall while the hosts shot fifteen times, but it would be a penalty converted by the Vikings that would take down the 'Jackets.
 
Both teams had their chances in the early stages of the match. Western Washington had a shot on goal from Jane Hmura in the 16^th minute head on goal before a last second block by the 'Jackets would prevent the hosts from scoring. Just minutes later, Liberty Palmer would fire a shot on goal, but the Vikings goalie Claire Henninger was able to make the save. They were the best chances of the half for either team, as the opening 45 minutes wound to a close with the score still knotted at 0-0.
 
The game would continue the same way from the beginning of the second half onward, with both teams threatening early in the period, including a combined eight shots in around ten minutes of game time, which included a pair of shots on goal from the 'Jackets, and a shot by Western Washington which bounced off the woodwork. But the tides would turn in the Viking's favor in the 75^th minute when MSUB was called for a penalty in the box. Gracen Crosby would step up to slot it home for the Vikings, with her goal proving to be the difference in the match as Western Washington went on to close things out for the shutout victory.
 
Palmer finished with two shots and one shot on goal, as did Jackie Sharpe and Mackenzie Carnell. Erika Wilson and Jillian Hust totaled one shot each. Senior goalkeepers Clare Keenan and Tuva Sallvin each saw time in the game for the 'Jackets, with Keenan making three saves, and Sallvin making one.
 
THE BUZZ: Palmer was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… Keenan finished her Yellowjacket career with 239 saves, second most in program history… Sallvin ends her MSUB career with five shutouts, tied for fifth most in program history, while her 97 career saves ranked eighth most in MSUB history… Palmer and Kendall McGraw tied for the most goals this season for the Yellowjackets with three each, while freshman Kaari Little had four assists, the most in a season for an MSUB player since 2019.