SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team continued it's red-hot start to the 2024 regular season, winning the program's third consecutive game to open the campaign with a 5-0 dismantling of Black Hills State University.
 
The Yellowjackets (3-0-0) took to the road for the first time this season, facing off against the Yellow Jackets (0-2-1) of South Dakota to kick off the week's road trip. The high flying 'Jackets, who outscored their opponents by a combined score of 6-0 in their opening weekend of play, kept the momentum rolling, with a trio of goals in the first 23 minutes of play to give MSUB a commanding early lead, and provide them the platform to see out the match, scoring twice more in the second half to give the program it's second consecutive 5-0 victory.
 
MSUB would get it's first goal of the match before it even totaled a shot on goal, with a cross from Liberty Palmer taking a deflection off a defender and heading into the Black Hills State net to give the visiting Yellowjackets an early advantage in just the seventh minute. They wouldn't have to wait long to double that advantage, when just eight minutes later, an incredible curling pass from Erika Wilson would clear the defense, landing perfectly at the right foot of Jackie Sharpe, who would slot it into the bottom left corner to double MSUB's lead on the team's second shot of the game. They would complete the first half trifecta in the 23^rd minute when after bolting behind the Black Hills defense, Palmer would be fouled in the box, drawing a penalty before stepping up to the spot and beating the keeper, giving the 'Jackets a comfortable lead early in the first half.
 
While Black Hills would find a little more attacking firepower in the second half, doubling it's shot total from four to eight in the second half, the Yellow Jackets would only place two of those attempts on goal, with MSUB's defense continuing to prevent threatening looks, and Claire Brogdon remaining solid in net. The 'Jackets would get two more down the stretch, with Ava Curtright's corner kick in the 62^nd minute finding Palmer, who would volley it in for her second goal of the match, before Maddie Smith would collect a deflection following some excellent dribbling by Jillian Hust, turning and blasting it past the goalkeeper for her first career goal as a Yellowjacket.
 
The Yellowjackets would attempt a total of 23 shots in the game, placing ten shots on goal. Palmer and freshman Jamie Maas each attempted a team high four, with Maas putting three shots on goal and Palmer putting two on goal. Sharpe, who scored in her second consecutive match, attempted three shots with one on goal, as did Smith and Taylor Gertsch. Chloe Fredenburg had two shot attempts with one on target, while Monica Brown put her lone shot attempt on goal. Wilson, along with Sunny Bennion and Kate Hollenberg, each had one shot. Brogdon made four total saves, bringing her season total up to 12 with the freshman yet to allow a single goal.
 
THE BUZZ: Palmer was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… The brace marked the second time the junior has scored two goals in a game, tying a career high set last season on Oct. 19 against Saint Martin's… Palmer and Sharpe have each totaled six points in their past two games, with Palmer scoring three goals, and Sharpe totaling two goals and two assists… Curtright's assist was the first of her Yellowjacket career, while Wilson's assist was her second of the season… as a team, MSUB has totaled 11 goals in three games, shooting 64 times and putting 43.8% of their attempts on goal… the 'Jackets have also kept three consecutive shutouts, tying for seventh most in program history... reaching back to last season's finale, MSUB hasn't allowed a goal in 285:45 total minutes of game time… the Yellowjackets have now opened a season with three consecutive victories for the first time since 2012… it marks the tenth three-game winning streak in the program's history.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB concludes it's road trip, and non-conference slate of games, when the 'Jackets head north to take on Minot State on Friday, September 13. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 PM MDT (6 PM CDT). Live video of the match is available here, and live statistics are available here.