Lady Jackets, Fighting Sioux Play to Draw (Sept. 4, 2004)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings women’s soccer team remained unbeaten on Saturday, playing to a 1-1 double overtime tie with North Dakota.  The Yellowjackets moved to 2-0-1 for the season while the Fighting Sioux are now 1-1-1. 

“It was a hard fought game,” said Yellowjacket coach Don Trentham, “and both teams played well.  We had chances to win, and they had chances to win.  It was just one of those games that ends in a tie.  We’re happy to still be unbeaten after playing North Dakota, who went to the NCAA Tournament last year.  We look forward to Monday’s game against another good team in Mesa State."

The Yellowjackets controlled much of the opening 25 minutes and out shot the Sioux 8-5 in the first half.  Neither team was able to find the net in the half, sending the game into the half tied at 0-0.  Yellowjacket goalkeeper Megan Plank (So., Phoenix, AZ) and Sioux goalkeeper Eve Compton each made three first half saves.  Plank finished the game with nine saves, including several potential game winners late in the game.  Compton had eight saves on the day.

North Dakota finally broke the ice at 64:26 off a corner kick from Meghan Mutrie.  Kelsie Niezwaag out jumped the defense to head Mutrie’s kick into the goal for a 1-0 lead.  The goal was Niezwaag’s first of the season.

With less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, the Yellowjackets’ Brittney Sandau (Fr., MF, Billings, MT) split two defenders near the top of the box and drove to the end line.  She turned and fired the ball back into the box where Alyssa Wolfer (So., F, Longmont, CO) was waiting in front of the goal.  Sandau’s pass beat the keeper and Wolfer was able to score from point-blank range to tie the game at 81:43.

“For some reason I thought we looked tired today,” said Trentham.  “That says something about our team to come back from down 1-0 to tie the game late in the game.  It’s good to see Alyssa scoring goals.  She’s off to a good start.  Brittney might not have had her best game, but she made things happen when we need it.”

The goal was Wolfer’s third of the season.  She leads the Yellowjackets with three goals and six points.  Sandau picked up her third point of the season with the assist.

Saturday’s game was the first of the third annual MSU Billings Cup Sponsored by Thrifty Car Rental.  North Dakota will face Mesa State at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, and MSU Billings will meet Mesa on Monday at 1:00.  Both games will be played at the MSU Billings College of Technology.