MSU Billings Faces
Laramie County CC in Women’s Soccer Exhibition Saturday (August 22, 2003)
BILLINGS, MT – The Lady Yellowjacket soccer
team will kick off the 2003 season Saturday evening with an
exhibition game against Laramie County Community College. Game
time is set for 5:00 p.m. at Yellowjacket Field, located at the
MSUB College of Technology. The game was originally scheduled for
1:00 p.m., but was pushed back in the day due to transportation
issues at LCCC.
The Yellowjackets were 2-14 in 2002, but
return seven experienced players. The returning veterans are
joined by one of the largest recruiting classes in school
history. Coach Don Trentham added speed and quickness to the
roster with ten new players. MSUB will open the 2003 regular
season next weekend when the Jackets host St. Cloud State
University and East Stroudsburg University in the Second Annual
MSU Billings Cup Sponsored by Thrifty Car Rental. The tournament
will run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with games starting at
1:00 p.m. each day. The Yellowjackets will take on St. Cloud
State on Friday and East Stroudsburg on Sunday.
The four Yellowjacket seniors have played for
MSUB for all four years. Mandy Reed from Denver, CO has
played since 2000, competing in 52 games in her college career.
She was a key defender and leader as the Yellowjacket sweeper her
freshman and junior years and she can also be utilized as a left
mid-fielder.
Another senior playing since 2000 with 52
games under her belt is Kelly Bryn from Missoula, MT. In the past she has been a mid-fielder, but her performance
last year proves that she can be a dangerous forward. Last year
she recorded the 14th fastest goal in NCAA Division II
history at 27 seconds.
Heidi Robertson, from Great Falls, MT,
has participated in 48 games and ranks fourth with assists in the
three years that she has been here. She is going on her second
year as a team captains.
Sara Otis from Vancouver, WA, has been
plagued with injury after injury. All three years she has had
knee problems and has broken her arm twice. Although she has had
a lot of downtime while recovering from injuries, her passion for
the game has helped her compete in 46 games and rank fourth in
goal scoring and third in assists for Yellowjacket soccer
history.
There are only three juniors on the squad. Candy Cherry from Missoula, MT, has played since 2001 and
has played in 34 games. Her ability to lead by example has made
her the other team captain. She has mainly played defense for her
first two years, but there are hopes for her to create some
scoring opportunities this year.
Margot Merrill-Johnson from Salt Lake
City, UT has played in 34 games. She has a strong presence as a
center mid-fielder but has demonstrated she can score. She ranks
third in school history for goal scoring.
From Tualatin, OR, Stephanie Clark is
capable of shutting down the opponent’s offense. She has been with
the Jackets since 2001 and has played in 32 games.
The new Yellowjackets’ credentials have
confirmed that they have the talent to help the team improve. Kendal Blanc of Lehi, UT, was a captain and led her team to
the regional championships and the state quarterfinals as a
midfielder. Kelsey Vinnedge from Great Falls, MT, was a
midfielder for her high school and received all-state, MVP and
academic honors throughout her high school career. As a defender, Stacie Dix of Grand Junction, CO helped her team make its
way to the 2002 district championship. Ally Taylor from
Ojai, CA, can play forward and center midfield. She was the
captain for two years at her high school, she has been MVP and
offensive player of the year her junior and senior seasons, won
three league championships in a row and was recently inducted into
the Hall of Fame. The Gatorade Player of the Year in Wyoming, Raquel Macias, of Cheyenne, was a two-time state champion and
first team all-state. Jenny Moellendorf, a midfielder and
leading scorer from Green River High School in Green River, WY,
was named three-time first team All-Conference and second-team
All-State selection. Amber “Mo” Olson is a transfer
student from Walla Walla Community College. As a midfielder and
defensive player she was second team all-conference at WWCC. Michele Kinzer of Butte, MT is also a transfer student. She
has been voted MVP by both her high school and club teams and was
ranked third in Montana for total goals scored in 2001.
The goalkeepers are led by Megan Plank from Phoenix, AZ, who was the captain for Thunderbird High
School. She is a keeper for the Scottsdale Futbol Club and is a
two-time regional champion and two-time second team all-region
pick. The other keeper is Alyssa Wolfer from Longmont,
CO. She was the goalkeeper for her high school for four years and
plays for the St. Vrain Express and REAL Colorado soccer clubs. |
