Yellowjackets Look to Stay Unbeaten, Host Rocky Tuesday (Sept. 13, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings women’s soccer team is off to its best start in the program’s history and has tied the school record unbeaten streak.  The Yellowjackets will put their 4-0-1 record—along with local bragging rights—on the line Tuesday when they host cross-town rival Rocky Mountain College.  Kick off is set for 4:00 p.m. at the MSU Billings College of Technology.

The Yellowjackets defeated Savannah College of Art and Design, 3-1, on Sunday to tie the school record unbeaten streak of five games.  Senior Margot Merrill-Johnson (MF, Salt Lake City) scored a pair of goals in the game, including the game winner.  Both of her goals were assisted by Alyssa Wolfer (So., F, Longmont, CO) and Brittney Sandau (Fr., MF, Billings, MT).  Merrill-Johnson tied Wolfer for the team lead for season goals scored with three.  Sandau leads the team with three assists.

Megan Plank (So., GK, Phoenix, AZ) has played all 489 minutes in goal for the Yellowjackets this year, posting an impressive 0.74 goals against average.  She has made 27 saves while allowing just four goals.

After struggling for the last two seasons, the Yellowjacket offense has outscored its opponents 12-4 so far this season.  They also hold a 105-58 shot advantage and a 47-32 shots on goal edge. 

The Yellowjackets split last year’s two-game series with Rocky, winning 3-0 at Rocky before falling 2-1 in double overtime at home in a frigid season finale.  With the series split, the teams played a five-shot shootout to determine the annual Rimrock Cup, with Rocky outscoring MSU Billings 5-3 in the shootout.  The Bears have won the Cup for the past two seasons.

Rocky is off to a 2-3 start after an overtime loss to Carroll College last weekend.  The Bears held a 2-0 lead with just eight minutes remaining in the game, but gave up two late goals to force OT.  Carroll ended the game in the sixth minute of overtime to steal the victory. 

The Yellowjackets and Bears will play the second game of this year’s Rimrock Cup on October 21 at Rocky Mountain.  Following Tuesday’s game, the Jackets will host Central Washington on Saturday in an important West Region match up.