BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team would celebrate the program's senior day by getting back in the win column, taking down Central Washington 2-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
Following a pregame celebration for the team's five seniors; Maddie Smith, Liberty Palmer, Erika Wilson, Nyah Attaway, and Hailee Gertsch; the Yellowjackets (3-11-0, 2-8-0 GNAC) would start hot, with Attaway and Kambryn Smith netting a pair of first half goals to take the early lead. The Wildcats (3-6-3, 1-6-3 GNAC) would close the gap late with a score of their own, but MSUB's defense would hold strong, helping seal an important victory and help the 'Jackets regain momentum.
 
MSUB would attempt just nine shots in the match to Central Washington's 13, but the Yellowjackets offense would be hyper clinical, putting seven shots on goal. Both Attaway and Kambryn Smith would put both their shot attempts on goal, including their scoring attempts. Palmer would shoot twice with one shot on goal, while Kennedy Craig and Abby Thompson would attempt one shot, putting their efforts on frame. Cesia Swain would attempt one shot, with the junior joining freshman Cianna Sexton in collecting assists on the Yellowjacket's goals. Natalie Weinmaster made four saves in goal for MSUB.
 
After a quiet opening few minutes of the game, MSUB's offense would roar to life on Attaway's first attempt of the game, a low driven shot saved by Wildcat goalkeeper Leighton Menge. She would continue to be called into action after that, with MSUB putting six more shots on frame in the half, keeping both Central Washington's goalkeeper and back line busy. The Yellowjackets would first be rewarded for their efforts in the 27^th with their opening goal of the game, with the freshman Smith would score just six minutes after entering the game as a substitute. It would be a freshman-to-freshman connection, after Sexton played a ball over the heads of Central Washington's backline, into the path of a streaking Smith, who would slot the ball home to give the 'Jackets the lead.
 
Then in the 35^th minute, the 'Jackets would see their advantage doubled, after Swain would push the ball out wide to Attaway. The senior would cut inside and blast her shot straight into the top right corner, finding net and giving MSUB a crucial insurance goal. Central Washington would finally get off their first shot attempt in the 43^rd minute, a testament to the tough defense played by the Yellowjackets throughout the first half. Both sides would help MSUB sit firmly in the driver's seat heading into halftime, just 45 minutes away from taking the victory.
 
But the Wildcats would not go down without a fight, adjusting at halftime and finding more space in attack. Following just a single shot attempt in the first 45 minutes, Central Washington would attempt 12 in the second half, including five efforts on target. Despite their increased attacking output, including a 55^th minute chance that glanced off the crossbar, Weinmaster would make a number of key stops in goal, while MSUB's defense would stand strong. CWU would claw one back in the 79^th minute off a deflected ball landed at the feet of Cam Sheets, who would slot it home and set up a tense final stretch of the game. But two more saves from Weinmaster would help to keep the score where it stood until the final horn sounded, and the Yellowjackets would seal up a quality victory.
 
THE BUZZ: Attaway was named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… her goal was the first of her MSUB career, and gave Attaway three points on the season with one goal and one assist... Sexton's assist was the first of her MSUB career… Smith's goal was her second of the season, moving her into the team lead with two and tying for the team high in points with four… Swain's assist would give her a team high two on the season, and move her level with Smith's four points… MSUB split it's season series with the Wildcats, and are now 17-15-3 all-time versus Central Washington.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB returns to the road for a pair of games against ranked opposition next week, opening their week on Thursday, October 30 with a matchup against #19 Simon Fraser University. Kickoff is schedule for 7 PM MT (6 PM MT) in Burnaby, British Columbia at Terry Fox Field. Live video will be available on the GNAC Network, and live statistics available here.