BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team would fall just short in it's return to Billings for it's first home conference game on the season, falling 1-0 to Central Washington University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
The Yellowjackets (2-3-4, 2-2-1 GNAC) would be outshot 12-1 overall, and 6-1 in shots on goal by the Wildcats (2-5-3, 2-2-1 GNAC), but a strong defensive effort would see the hosts hold the game level for a large chunk of the action. But a 62
nd minute penalty kick from the Wildcats would prove to be the difference on the night, with the 'Jackets unable to counter that blow.
Tenley Leffler would make four saves in net, making a number of other key interventions on crosses and through balls, while
Emmersyn Burckley would attempt MSUB's lone shot in the match.
The Wildcats would attempt the games' first four shots, putting pressure on the MSUB backline early, but would see three of those efforts blocked, with Leffler pulling out her first save of the game in the tenth minute on the other shot. The 'Jackets would then find their lone look of the game in the 17
th minute on a shot from Burckley, but that effort would be denied by CWU goalkeeper Danika Galbraith, keeping the game level. Central Washington would attempt four more shots in the half, with three shots on goal, but each of those looks would be denied by Leffler, keeping the action level heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Wildcats would attempt just four shots, nearly opening the scoring in the 54
th minute after Shannah Mellick would find room to fire away a shot that nearly went in the net, with a crucial block from
Kelsie Cox keeping the visitors scoreless. But that would change in the 63
rd minute when Kylee Schreck would be pulled down in the box by a Yellowjacket defender, drawing a penalty kick call from the referee. Schreck would then step up and slot the ball past Leffler to give Central Washington a 1-0 lead from the spot. The game would see just one more shot from either team the rest of the way, with the two teams battling in the midfield until the bitter end, with MSUB unable to find an opportunity to take things level.
THE BUZZ: Vivian Gaither was named the Player of the Game… she, along with Leffler and Cox, would be three of six Yellowjackets who played a full 90 minutes, joining
Ava Gibbs,
Cianna Sexton, and
Ava Curtright.
UP NEXT: MSUB is back on home field this Saturday, October 3 for the team's annual MSUB Kicks Cancer Game, where the 'Jackets will wear pink uniforms as they take on Northwest Nazarene University. Kickoff is set for 12 PM at Yellowjacket Soccer Field, with live video available on the
GNAC Network, and live statistics
available here. Tickets are available for purchase
online here.
