BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team collected it's first conference win of the season, taking down Saint Martin's University 1-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
A hard-fought battle between the two sides would see both sides remain deadlocked for a majority of the game. But a late goal from Liberty Palmer would help push the game in favor of the Yellowjackets (2-0-4, 1-0-1 GNAC), while the defense would stymie the Saints' (1-0-5, 0-0-2 GNAC) attack, helping MSUB collect it's first shutout of the season.
 
Palmer would attempt a pair of shots in the game, converting her lone shot on goal into a game-winner, while Cesia Swain would collect her first career assist as a Yellowjacket, while attempting three shots and putting one effort on goal. Cianna Sexton would put her lone shot attempt on goal, while Kayden Harwood would attempt two shots, and Kambryn Smith would shoot once. In net, Natalie Weinmaster would collect her first career shutout, making five saves in total.
 
Both teams would find early look in the match, with the Saints putting the first look on goal in the 8^th minute on a shot handled easily by Weinmaster. But the most promising chance of the first half would come from MSUB on a 16^th minute corner kick, which Swain would swing into the box and find the head of Harwood. Her attempt would hit off the crossbar and bounce out, denying the 'Jackets a chance to take an early lead in the match. There wouldn't be a large amount of shots in total from the opening 45 minutes, with MSUB outshooting Saint Martin's 4-3 and both teams putting just one shot on goal. The 'Jackets would finally put one on net in the final minutes of the half off the foot of Sexton, but her look would be saved by Mallory Patzer, keeping the game tied and scoreless heading into halftime.
 
The 'Jackets would nearly break through once more in the opening second of the second half, quickly getting Swain in behind for a promising look across goal from the wing. But her effort would be narrowly saved by substitute keeper Sam Escobar, keeping MSUB off the scoresheet. Swain would have a similar chance shortly after, this time narrowly missing out on a goal by a foot, but the Saints would control the majority of attacking chances as the game wound towards its conclusion, outshooting MSUB 12-5 in the second half and putting four looks on goal compared to the 'Jackets two. But Weinmaster would stand tall in net, making four second half saves, while MSUB's defense held strong in front of her, blocking a number of shots and making things difficult for Saint Martin's.
 
Time would continue to tick off the clock though, and with the game making it's way into the final minutes of the game, both teams would try desperately to break the deadlock. The Saints appeared to have a promising chance with a free kick in the 88^th minute, but after initially clearing the pressure, a deflection by Sexton in the midfield would see the ball land at Swain's feet. She would quickly open up the counterattack with a long ball behind the visitor's backline, which found a streaking Palmer. The senior deftly juked a trailing defender, before slotting the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper to push MSUB ahead late. The final minutes would pass with the Yellowjacket defense holding firm, and MSUB would wrap up the game to collect it's first win of conference play, and take a valuable three points.
 
THE BUZZ: Palmer was named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… her goal was the first of her season, and number 15 for Palmer, who sits two goals away from tying Mady Ploskonka for ninth in program history… Palmer now sits on 32 career points as well, six away from moving into the top ten in program history… Swain's assist now give the junior a team high three points on the season, while leading MSUB with 11 shots and five shots on goal.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets remain at home for two more games next week, opening their slate of games off with the team's annual MSUB Kicks Cancer match and a pink out against Western Washington University (3-1-3, 1-0-1 GNAC). The game is scheduled for Thursday, October 2^nd at Yellowjacket Field, with kickoff at 7 PM. Live video is available on the GNAC Network, while live statistics are available here. Tickets for all MSUB home matches are available for purchase online here.