BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team finished it's first week of regular season play Saturday with an impressive 5-0 victory over Carroll College to conclude the ninth annual Rimrock Classic.
 
Behind an explosive offense that attempted 24 total shots, putting 11 of them on goal, the Yellowjackets (2-0-0) scored the opener in the first half before putting four more goals on the Saints (2-1-2) in the second half. The team's five goals, scored by four different players, was the first time the 'Jackets have scored that many goals since a 5-1 win over Saint Martin's in 2019.
 
MSUB opened the game strong, threatening to break through within the first minutes of the game, with a pair of shots that narrowly missed the framework early. The 'Jackets would continue to attack strong, keeping control of the possession and continuing to work for their chances. Their breakthrough would come in the 24^th minute, when after receiving the ball wide, Ave Roberts would swing a cross into the box, where senior Kendall McGraw would away tuck it away to open the scoring. The 'Jackets would continue to attack as the half wore on, outshooting the Saints 8-3 in the opening 45 minutes, but Carroll wouldn't let another one by for the rest of the half, with MSUB's lead remaining 1-0 at the break.
 
It wouldn't take long for the Yellowjackets to change that though, when just under four minutes into the start of the second half, Jackie Sharpe would score her first goal of the season, taking a pass from Jamie Maas and sliding the ball into the bottom right corner. Just one minute and 20 seconds later, Liberty Palmer would make it 3-0 for the 'Jackets, running onto a through ball from Taylor Gertsch and beating the keeper. MSUB would tack on two more goals in the later stages of the game, with McGraw scoring her second goal of the match in the 69^th minute, giving the midfielder her first multi-goal game as a Yellowjacket. Then in the 78^th minute, Ericka Wilson would close out the scoring for MSUB, slotting in her first goal of the season following a cross by Sharpe. The 'Jackets would go on to see out the game without issue, starting the season with back-to-back wins.
 
Sharpe would assist on both of the 'Jackets final two goals, collecting the first multi-assist game of her career. The senior attempted five shots in the match, putting two shots on goal. McGraw, Wilson, and Monica Brown each attempted three shots, putting two on goal, while Palmer attempted two shots with one on goal. Grace Bittner and Briel Powers each had one shot on target, the first of their collegiate careers. Jamie Maas attempted three total shots in the match, and Maddie Smith had one. Claire Brogdon made one save in net, with the 'Jackets defense only allowing Carroll to attempt three shots in the match, and none in the second half.
 
THE BUZZ: McGraw was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… the Yellowjacket's win marked the first time the team has opened the season 2-0 and with two consecutive shutouts since the Covid-impacted spring 2021 season… prior to that, it's the 'Jackets best start to a regular season since 2014… Powers and Kate Hollenberg both made their debuts for MSUB in the match… The 5-0 scoreline was tied as the sixth largest margin of victory in program history.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will look to continue their hot start on the road, when the team heads to Spearfish, South Dakota to take on Black Hills State. Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11 at 3 PM, with live video available here, and live statistics available here.