BISMARCK, N.D. – Opening the year on the road, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team was unable to find victory against University of Mary, falling to the Marauders by a score of 2-0.
 
In a match heavily impacted by heavy winds in Bismarck, the home Marauders (1-0-0) would control the majority of the game, seeing off the challenge from the Yellowjackets (0-1-0). Mary outshot MSUB by a total of 15-2 in the match, including a 7-2 advantage in shots on target, pushing past MSUB to win on their home turf.
 
The Marauders threatened to break the scoring open early in the match, hitting the post in just the fourth minute of the first half. The 'Jackets would look to fight back against the win and the Marauders press, but Mary would continue to limit opportunities in MSUB's attacking half, while taking advantage of the strong wind at their backs to keep MSUB on the backfoot. The breakthrough would come in the 14^th minute for the Marauders, with a long-range effort from outside the box by Rachel Gensch hitting the top left corner perfectly, putting MSUB in an early hole. The 'Jackets would continue to try to strike back, but would continue to struggle to create opportunities, being held without a shot in the first half. The Marauders would double their lead just before the half, with a free kick by Dina Polanco finding the back of the net to send MSUB into the half trailing.
 
The 'Jackets would find their first shot of the game in the opening minute of the second half, with Cianna Sexton putting her first effort on target and forcing a save. Meanwhile, the Yellowjackets would show improvement in defense during the second half, holding the Marauders to just three shots in the final 45 minutes, and saving both of those efforts. But MSUB would remain unable to generate scoring opportunities, with their second and final shot of the contest coming in the 86^th minute and being saved by the Mary goalkeeper. The Marauders would then run out the remaining minutes with no issue before the final horn would sound, sealing an opening defeat for MSUB.
 
Sexton recorded both of MSUB's shots in the game, placing both efforts on goal. Meanwhile, the Yellowjacket's goalkeepers would split the game evenly in net, with Emma Powell totaling three saves, and Natalie Weinmaster recording two.
 
THE BUZZ: Erika Wilson was named as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… both her and Ava Curtright were the lone two Yellowjackets to total a full 90 minutes in the match… In addition to Cianna Sexton, Emma Powell, and Natalie Weinmaster, five more Yellowjackets played their first regular season game for the team (Kambryn Smith, Peyton Tarabokija, Cesia Swain, Kelsie Cox, and Kennedy Craig) … MSUB is now 11-5-4 all-time in matchups versus the Marauders.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will regroup and head back to Montana to round out their first week of regular season play, facing off with University of Montana in Missoula on Sunday, September 7 at 1 PM. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ here, while live statistics will be available here.