Yellowjackets Tie Montana in Exhibition Soccer, 1-1

MISSOULA, Mont. – Montana State Billings’ women’s soccer team opened the 2009 season with a 1-1 exhibition draw on a cool and rainy Saturday afternoon at the University of Montana. 

“We have worked a lot this past week on defense and I thought we played very well defensively today.  Our mental toughness was good today, going on the road in our first game against a Division I program,” head coach Don Trentham said.

The Yellowjackets complete the exhibition season with a game at the University of Great Falls Sunday at 12 p.m.

Freshman Jaucelyn Richter had the ball inside the 18 and fired a nice pass outside the box to fellow freshman, Jennifer Larsen who chipped it over the head of the Grizzly goalkeeper for a 1-0 score.  The goal came in the 16th minute of the first of four 25-minute quarters.

Montana evened the score in the 21st minute of the second quarter as Brandee Marone placed a low pass in front of the Yellowjacket net as Kaitlyn Heinsohn scored on the play for a 1-1 score. 

The game remained 1-1 throughout the rest of the contest, but the Grizzlies had a great opportunity midway through the fourth quarter as they got a one-on-one situation with MSUB goalkeeper Jordan Fenwick. 

Fenwick stopped the Ashley Tombelaine drive and then made a second save on the play on the putback to keep the score 1-1. 

The Yellowjackets open the regular season Aug. 29 versus Cal State San Bernardino in St. George, Utah.  They then are scheduled to play at Dixie State two days later, before returning home for the Seventh Annual MSU Billings Cup, Sept. 4-6.