MISSOULA, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team competed hard on Sunday against Montana, ultimately losing 2-0 to the DI Grizzlies in their second exhibition match of the preseason.
 
Facing an uphill battle against a program receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, the Yellowjackets didn't make anything easy for the Grizzlies, holding the hosts scoreless in the first half and preventing Montana from scoring until the 67^th minute of the game, keeping the final result in question until a last-minute goal would seal the victory for Montana.
 
Both teams would find opportunities in the first ten minutes of the game, with Montana attempting a pair of shots on target while the Yellowjackets had multiple promising looks from the wings, before Jackie Sharpe would attempt their first shot of the game, forcing an early save. But as the half wore on, the Grizzlies would see more of the ball and scoring opportunities, attempting a total of 19 shots compared to six from MSUB in the opening half. But goalkeeper Claire Brogdon would prove to be the standout player of the half, collecting seven first half saves, including a pair of impressive diving efforts, while also preventing shots by collecting multiple crosses and corners in the box. The efforts of Brogdon and the defense in front of her would help the Yellowjackets keep the Grizzlies off the scoreboard in the first half, taking a 0-0 draw into halftime.
 
Montana would continue to press for a goal as the second half began, but Brogdon continued to impress in net, denying opportunity after opportunity. The Grizzlies would finally break through in the 67^th minute though, when a ball in from a corner kick would land amongst a crowd of players, finding the feet of Eliza Bentler whose shot would squeak past an outstretched Brogdon to open the scoring for Montana. The 'Jackets would look for an opening to try and even things up late, but the Montana defense would hold strong, not allowing a shot on goal the rest of the game, before a goal in the 90^th minute from Riley O'Brien would see the home team clinch victory.
 
Brogdon finished with an impressive 15 saves in the match after finishing with an additional eight in the second half. Jackie Sharpe and Taylor Gertsch attempted two shots each, with Sharpe collecting the Yellowjacket's lone shot on goal in the match. Kendall McGraw, Liberty Palmer, Nyah Attaway, Briel Powers, and Grace Bittner each attempted one shot.
 
THE BUZZ: Brogdon was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… If the game's stats counted towards MSUB's records, Brogdon's 15 saves would have ranked as the eighth most in a single game.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB finishes off it's preseason slate of games with a scrimmage against Northwest College on Wednesday, August 28. Kickoff is set for 4 PM, with free admission for all Yellowjacket fans.