BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University women's soccer team collected it's second straight draw to open the regular season Thursday night, playing even with Minnesota State University Moorhead in a 1-1 contest on day one of the Rimrock Classic.
The Yellowjackets (0-0-2) would dominate the game's chances, firing 25 total shots, the team's most in a single game since 2023, and putting 13 shots on goal, while the defense would allow just ten shots and two shots on goal. Freshman
Emmersyn Burckley would open the scoring in the second half to give the Yellowjackets the lead, but a late goal from the Dragons (1-0-1) would level the game once more, with neither team being able to break the deadlock before the final whistle.
Burckley would convert her lone shot on goal, attempting two shots in the game. Her finish would mark the first career goal of her collegiate career.
Cesia Swain meanwhile would attempt ten shots for MSUB, the most by a Yellowjacket since Julia Keller in 2019, putting five shots on goal.
Kennedy Craig would place two of her three shots on goal, as would
Jordyn Daigle.
Kolbi Kiblen would shoot twice with one shot on goal.
Abby Thompson and
Millie Bamer would each place their lone shots on goal, while
Cianna Sexton,
Vivian Gaither, and
Peyton Tarabokija would each attempt one shot. Tarabokija would collect the assist on Burckley's goal, the first of the defender's career.
Tenley Leffler made one save.
After slowly growing into the game across the opening ten minutes, with the only pair of chances coming off of blocked shots from the Dragons, the Yellowjackets would turn up the pressure on offense, attacking strong from the wins and stealing momentum. Across the remaining minutes of the first half, MSUB would outshoot Moorhead 11-2, locking up on defense to prevent a single shot on goal while placing four shots on goal. MSUB would threaten to take the lead at multiple points, with a 27
th minute scrum off a corner kick seeing a rebounded effort from Swain hit off the crossbar, while a pair of shots to the left corner in the final minutes of the half from Swain and Daigle would force tough saves from Dragon's goalkeeper Emilia Kristensen, with her efforts in net helping Minnesota State Moorhead hold the game to a scoreless tie going into halftime.
The 'Jackets would continue to pour on the offensive pressure in the second half, outshooting the Dragons 13-6 overall, and 9-2 in shots on target across the final 45 minutes. MSUB would continuously pressure to find their opening goal, including a run of six shots on goal in an 11-minute span. The team's efforts would finally be rewarded after a looping ball from Tarabokija would clear the Dragon's backline, finding the foot of a running Burckley, with the Billings local putting a long shot in the back of the net to give MSUB a deserved lead in the 72
nd minute.
But the lead would last only eight minutes, following a scrum in the box following a Moorhead corner kick, where the ball would find the head of Mary Cox, who would put the ball past a sea of bodies and into the goal to give the Dragon's an equalizer. Both teams would find opportunities to take the lead, with MSUB putting two more looks on goal following the goal while an effort from the visitors would take a glance off the right post. But in the end, neither team would be able to find separation late, as the Yellowjackets finished with their second consecutive draw.
THE BUZZ: Burckley was named the Player of the Game for her efforts… the game marked the first career start for
Alaina Asan.
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will finish off the Rimrock Classic with a matchup on Saturday, September 5 against University of Mary at Yellowjacket Field, with kickoff set for 3 PM. Live video will be available on the
GNAC Network, while live statistics will be
available here. Tickets can be purchased
online here.
