Division I Teams Highlight Alumni/Parents’ Weekend for MSUB Soccer (Oct. 22, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The women’s soccer team at MSU Billings apparently likes challenges.  For their second annual Alumni/Parents’ Weekend to be held October 24-26, the Yellowjackets have scheduled a pair of Division I teams in Utah Valley State and Northern Colorado.  Both teams are in the process of reclassifying to Division I, with UNC moving up from Division II and UVSC jumping from the junior college ranks.

Coach Don Trentham, who began the Alumni Weekend last year, hopes to have at least 15 former players on hand for this weekend.  Women’s soccer has existed at MSU Billings since 1996.  The weekend will include the two soccer games and a 5-on-5 alumni tournament.

The Yellowjackets open the weekend by hosting Utah Valley State College on Friday at 3:30.  The Wolverines are 6-4-1 and winners of three of their last four games, including a 10-0 drubbing of Northwest Nazarene.  MSUB defeated NNU 4-0 in the second week of the season.  UVSC has outscored its opponents 42-18 in the Wolverines’ first year of competition against four-year schools and has several DI opponents on its schedule.

Northern Colorado, a central region power in Division II in recent years, is in its first year of reclassification to Division I.  The Bears have eight DI teams on their schedule this season and are currently 5-5-1.  The Yellowjackets will face UNC at 1:00 on Sunday (the Bears and Wolverines will square off Saturday at 1:00.)  Freshman Kady Hydrick leads UNC with 13 points on four goals and five assists while fellow freshman Chelsey Ekenberg has scored a team-high five goals.  UNC earned its first DI win since reclassifying, 2-1, over Valparaiso on September 5.  In their last game on October 8, the Bears shut out Carroll College 3-0.  Carroll, the only common opponent between the Bears and Yellowjackets, defeated MSUB 2-1 last weekend.

MSU Billings (6-7-1) relies on a mix of freshmen and veterans.  Ally Taylor (Fr., Ojai, CA) leads the Jackets with 19 points on six goals and seven assists.  Margot Merrill-Johnson (Jr., Salt Lake City) is the leading goal-scorer with eight on the season.  She also has two assists for 18 points.  Sara Otis (Sr., Vancouver, WA) and Stephanie Clark (Jr., Tualatin, OR) have each scored three goals.

Defensively, MSUB is anchored by upper classmen.  Mandy Reed (Sr., Denver, CO) has missed the last two weeks with an injury, but could return this week.  Candy Cherry (Jr., Missoula, MT) and Heidi Robertson (Sr., Great Falls, MT) are both team captains and are critical in orchestrating the Yellowjacket defense.  Freshman Jenni Furman (Casper, WY) has given the defense important minutes in place of Reed over the last two weeks and has likely earned more playing time even after Reed returns.

In goal, Megan Plank (Fr., Phoenix, AZ) continues to shine.  She made nine saves in the loss to Carroll last week, several of which were from close range.  Plank has 75 saves for the season and has posted a 1.00 goals against average in 899 minutes.  With five games remaining, she is on pace to set a school record for season goals against average. 

Schedule of Events for Lady Yellowjacket Alumni/Parents’ Weekend
Friday, Oct. 24 – MSUB vs. Utah Valley State (3:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 25 – Alumni 5-on-5 Tournament (10:00 a.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 26 – MSUB vs. Northern Colorado (1:00 p.m.)