BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team opened its preseason run of games in emphatic fashion, taking down Rocky Mountain College 2-1 in Rimrock Rivalry action.
 
The Yellowjackets, who are looking to make some noise in the 2024 regular season, started their year with a bang, dominating the ball against the Battlin' Bears and threatening to score throughout the entire match. The 'Jackets outshot their crosstown rival 29-7 overall in the match, while putting 15 of their shots on goal, compared to Rocky's two.
 
The game started slowly, with both teams trying to figure each other out defensively. The Yellowjackets and the Battlin' Bears combined for just two shots in the opening 17 minutes of play, with neither attempt finding its way on target. But after Erika Wilson put the game's first shot on target, MSUB turned on the gas, continuing to threaten with a number of runs into the box, and threatening to score multiple times from corner kicks. The 'Jackets would finally find the back of the net in the 26^th minute of play, when a foul on the edge of the box gave them a free kick in a dangerous place. Senior midfielder Taylor Gertsch would step up to hit it, putting it past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper into the top right corner to give the 'Jackets the advantage.
 
MSUB would continue to threaten as the first 45 minutes wound to a close, outshooting Rocky 10-3 over the first half. But they wouldn't find their way through again until their last attempt, when with just 31 seconds remaining in the half, Gertsch's well played ball to the top of the box found Erika Wilson, who put the ball home to double the Yellowjackets advantage right before the break.
 
The 'Jackets looked likely to score a third goal when the second half commenced, attempting eight shots in the first 15 minutes of action. But following minutes of sustained attack, the Battlin' Bears were able to break away on the counter, with Emma Lensing finding her way through to slot one home, and make things interesting down the stretch. The Yellowjacket's defense would step up following the goal however, allowing just two shots down the stretch to prevent their rivals from completing the comeback, and would walk away smiling once the final horn sounded, defeating the Battlin' Bears in the two side's lone meeting on the season.
 
Gertsch attempted a total of seven shots on the night, with four on target, while coming away with both a goal and an assist. Meanwhile, Wilson shot five times with three shots on goal, including her scoring effort. Defender Sunny Bennion put two of her four shots on goal, while Liberty Palmer had one shot on goal from two attempts, and both Jackie Sharpe and Kendall McGraw had a pair of shots. Freshman Jamie Maas had two shots and one shot on goal, while fellow newcomers Briel Powers and Grace Bittner put their lone shots on goal. They were three of five players to attempt a shot on target for the Yellowjackets, with forwards Nyah Attaway and Maddie Smith each finishing with one. Goalkeeper Claire Brogdon played the full match, making one save.
 
THE BUZZ: Gertsch was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… including both regular season and exhibition match ups, the Yellowjackets are now 6-3-1 in their last ten matches against the Battlin' Bears.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets continue their preseason slate with a trip to Missoula to face off against University of Montana on Sunday, August 25. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 1 PM at South Campus Stadium, with live video available on ESPN+, and live statistics available here.