MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team would split the points with Western Oregon University in the team's first taste of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this season, drawing 1-1 on Thursday afternoon.
The Yellowjackets (0-1-4) would take an early lead following a goal from
Abby Thompson early in the first half, but a relentless Wolves (1-2-2) side would even things up in the second half, with the two sides sharing a point to open up their conference slates. Western Oregon would outshoot the 'Jackets 26-10 in the game, putting nine shots on goal, while MSUB placed five shots on net.
Thompson would fire her goal on her only shot of the match, netting the first goal of her season. Meanwhile,
Kennedy Craig would attempt a team high four shots, putting a pair of shots on goal.
Vivian Gaither and
Amaya Lorash would each place a shot on goal in their lone attempts of the game.
Kolbi Kiblen would attempt two shots, and
Emmersyn Burckley would shoot once. In net,
Tenley Leffler would make eight saves, matching a season high.
The Yellowjackets would sustain an extended amount of offensive pressure from the Wolves to open the first half, with Western Oregon attempting the game's first five shots, including a pair of chances that forced saves from Leffler. But against the run of play, it would be MSUB who would open the scoring in the 13
th minute, capitalizing on their first chance of the game. A ball forward to the Wolves' backline would see Thompson putting pressure on a defender with her back to goal, winning the ball and surging forward, before the junior would fire a long shot from the top left corner of the box, hitting it over a jumping goalkeeper and putting the 'Jackets ahead in the early stages of the match.
The game would proceed in a more balanced manner for the rest of the first half, despite the 'Jackets threatening to double their lead just minutes after the goal from Craig's first look on goal. Both teams would battle in the midfield to gain momentum, with neither team dominating the looks for the rest of the first half. But each side would threaten just second apart in the 38
th minute, providing a pair of exciting sequences on both ends. Western Oregon would work the ball through to Kaia Borje-Peeples, who would fire the Wolves' third shot on goal of the half, which Leffler would deal with. Just 30 seconds later, the Yellowjackets would take advantage of another mistake in the defensive end from Western Oregon, collecting a misplayed touch to send Kiblen through 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. But WOU's Ayanah Soon would pull of an impressive save with her feet, just managing to keep MSUB from a two-goal advantage, and remaining within a goal of evening the match up heading into halftime.
The hosts would come out reinvigorated to open the second half though, attempting eight shots, including four shots on goal in the first nine minutes of the period. The final one of that run would come in the final ticks of the 54
th minute, with Maya Courtenay finally putting a ball past Leffler, and leveling the score at 1-1. Both teams would threaten to break the deadlock, with MSUB putting three more shots on goal in the half, while a shot in the final minutes from Burckley would deflect off the crossbar. But in the end, neither team would be able to find a way to put a go-ahead goal in the back of the net, sharing the points to begin both of their conference campaigns.
THE BUZZ: Thompson was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… Leffler, Gaither,
Ava Curtright,
Peyton Tarabokija, and
Ava Gibbs would each play a full 90 minutes… the match marked the third 1-1 draw for the Yellowjackets this season.
UP NEXT: MSUB will round out the week's action by heading to Lacey, Washington to take on Saint Martin's University this Saturday, September 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 PM MT (1 PM PT) at Saints Field, with live video available on the
GNAC Network, and live statistics
available here.
