NAMPA, Idaho – Facing a tough road match, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team earned a hard-fought tie against Northwest Nazarene, with the game finishing at 2-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-4-1, 0-3-1 GNAC) picked up their first positive result in conference play this season, leading for a majority of the game before a late goal by the Nighthawks (4-1-3, 2-1-1 GNAC) turned the match into a draw. It was a narrow game between the two teams, with NNU slightly outshooting the 'Jackets 13-11, and 7-5 in shots on target.
 
The two teams started the game with plenty of excitement, each scoring a goal in the opening seven minutes of the game. The 'Jackets struck first shortly before the five-minute mark, when Taylor Gertsch hit a long-range effort off the crossbar, where it fell in front of goal to a crashing Kendall McGraw, who easily tapped the ball in to give the Yellowjackets an early lead. That lead would last long though, when Madison Grande of NNU who slot home the equalizer just two minutes later, evening things again. The Yellowjackets would continue to push hard as the half went on, and were rewarded for their efforts in the 23^rd minute. Following a long free kick, the ball bounced around the top of the box, ending up at the feet of freshman Kaari Little. From there, she would tap the ball over to Jackie Sharpe, whose right-footed effort hit off the side bar, before crossing the line, giving MSUB a 2-1 lead that they would take into halftime.
 
The Nighthawks pushed for a goal off the whistle as the second half began, but were unable to put a chance on target, as the 'Jackets looked to close out the half. MSUB threatened to expand their lead, hitting a pair of shots on goal in the half and outshooting the Nighthawks 6-5 overall in the second half. But in the 86^th minute, Northwest Nazarene's Alexis Cromwell was able to get one past the Yellowjacket's defense, finishing her chance for a late game-tying goal. Neither team was able to find a chance to break the deadlock over the final minutes, and the squads would settle for a 2-2 tie.
 
Sharpe finished with three shots in the game for MSUB, converting her lone shot on target, while McGraw had two with a goal in her lone shot on target as well. Jillian Hust finished with three shots and two shots on goal. Little placed her lone shot on goal, while Gertsch and Monica Brown each had one shot in the game. Yellowjacket goalkeeper Clare Keenan finished with five saves in the match, moving her career total to 232, tying Jordan Fenwick for the second most saves in program history.
 
THE BUZZ: Sharpe was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… Sharpe has generated 25 shots over seven games this season, putting 44% of her looks on goal… McGraw scored her second goal of the season, tying for the 'Jackets season high with Little… Little leads the Yellowjackets in points with six (two goals, two assists), ranking tied for sixth in the GNAC and second most of any freshman in the conference… the draw was the first point MSUB had picked up against NNU since their last win in 2019.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets return to Billings for a pair of games next week, kicking things off against Western Oregon on Thursday, October 5 at Yellowjacket Soccer Field. Kickoff is set for 6 PM, with tickets available for purchase online here. Live video will be available here, and live statistics will be available here.