Lady Yellowjackets, St. Cloud State Play to Double OT Stalemate (August 29, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The 2003 women’s soccer season kicked off without a goal being scored Friday as MSU Billings and St. Cloud State played to a scoreless tie.  Double overtime couldn’t break the deadlock as both teams left the season opener with a 0-0-1 record.

The Yellowjackets were the aggressors in the first 20 minutes of the game but couldn’t come up with a good look at the goal.  The Huskies put on the pressure for the final fifteen minutes of the opening half but also came away empty handed.  SCSU out shot MSUB 5-4 in the opening half with both goalkeepers registering three saves.

“Defensively we’re pretty sound,” said MSU Billings head coach Don Trentham after the game.  “I can only think of one legitimate scoring chance they had on us.  To play an exhibition game and a double overtime game and still not give up a goal, I’m pleased with that.”

Yellowjacket goalkeeper Megan Plank (Fr., Phoenix, AZ) recorded eight saves in her first collegiate game.  She was tabbed as the starter late in the week after Alyssa Wolfer (Fr., Longmont, CO) sustained a mild concussion in practice.  Wolfer will be out until at least the middle of next week.  In all, MSUB was missing three starters including Wolfer.  Raquel Macias (Fr., MF, Cheyenne, WY) missed the game with an ankle injury sustained in last week’s exhibition game.  Mandy Reed (Sr., D, Denver, CO) had to sit out the opening game because she received a red card in last season’s final game.

“It’s exciting for the future of the season and the program,” said Trentham about the performance of his younger players.  Six freshmen saw playing time for the Jackets Friday.  “Obviously we can take a lot of confidence away from this game, especially our freshman goalkeeper.  There are 17 games left, though, and we still have a lot of work to do.”

MSU Billings applied steady offensive pressure in the second half, out shooting the Huskies 11-6.  Five of the 11 shots were on goal, and three of them missed just wide of the net.  St. Cloud State goalkeeper Stephanie Brendel stopped nine shots in the game.

“We definitely created some scoring chances,” said Trentham.  “On any other day, we might have put three goals in the back of the net.

St. Cloud State will take on East Stroudsburg (PA) Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in the second game of this year’s MSU Billings Cup Sponsored by Thrifty Car Rental.  The Yellowjackets will be back in action on Sunday at 1:00 against East Stroudsburg.  Both games are at Yellowjacket Field.