NAMPA, Idaho. – In a match between a pair of teams tied in the conference standings, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team emerged victorious over Northwest Nazarene, picking up a 3-1 victory in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
In a match where both teams needed to win to try and keep pace for a chance to make the GNAC Championships, the Yellowjackets (6-6-3, 3-5-3 GNAC) would pick up the all important three points against the Nighthawks (3-12, 3-8 GNAC), taking sole possession of fifth place in the conference standings. The 'Jackets were led by a pair of goals from Liberty Palmer, while Erika Wilson contributed on all three of MSUB's goals, scoring one goal and adding a pair of assists.
 
The Yellowjackets wouldn't have to wait long to open the scoring, with Palmer converting the 'Jackets first attempt of the game to give the visitors an early lead. After receiving the pass from Erika Wilson, Palmer would dribble to create space for herself, before rocketing a shot into the bottom left corner, giving MSUB the advantage in just the eighth minute. The Nighthawks would threaten to equalize with an effort off the crossbar in the 26^th minute, and continued to push from there, eventually finding their goal off a loose ball from a corner kick to even the match at one all. But with momentum threatening to tilt further in the Nighthawks favor, the 'Jackets would find a break in the final minute before halftime. Dribbling inside from the left side, a streaking Chloe Fredenburg would put an excellent chance on goal, forcing the Nighthawk's goalie to deflect the ball towards Erika Wilson, who would take advantage of the opportunity to hand the lead back to MSUB just before the break.
 
The second half saw both teams continue to push the ball forward with intensity, knowing that a win would be vital to either team's postseasons ambitions. The Yellowjackets would threaten early, with shots on goal from Palmer and Jackie Sharpe forcing early saves, while Northwest Nazarene would generate their share of offensive pressure. But the combination of Wilson and Palmer would strike once again, when after forcing a turnover, Wilson would drive into the Nighthawk's box, before deftly laying the ball off to Palmer to seal the junior's second brace of the season, and third of her career. The Nighthawks would continue to pour numbers forward as they searched desperately for a way back into the game, but the Yellowjacket defense would prove difficult to break down, and a pair of big saves from Claire Brogdon would ensure the Yellowjacket's third GNAC victory of the season, and keep the program's hopes of qualifying for the GNAC Championships alive.
 
Palmer put all four of her shot attempts on goal, converting two, while Wilson scored her lone shot of the match. Sharpe and Fredenburg, who collected her first career assist, also put their only shots on goal. Meanwhile, Taylor Gertsch attempted three shots, and Monica Brown and Nyah Attaway each had one shot. Brogdon finished with a total of three saves.
 
THE BUZZ: Wilson was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… the game marked a new career high for assists in a game for Wilson with two, and points in a game with four… Wilson moved into a tie with Sharpe for the team lead in assists this season with four, and a multi-way tie for fifth in the GNAC this season… Palmer has now totaled 14 goals in her Yellowjacket career, jumping the duo of Alycia Wright and Alisa Sagdahl to score the tenth most goals in program history.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets look to continue to make a late push for a postseason berth when they play their final road game of the season on November 2 in Ellensburg, Washington against Central Washington University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM MT (12 PM PT), with live video available here, and live statistics available here.