MSU Billings Women’s Soccer Ranked Tenth in Final Regional Poll (Nov. 9, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings women’s soccer team was rewarded for its best season in school history with a No. 10 ranking in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America Far West Region poll.  The Yellowjackets finished the year with a 12-4-3 overall record, eclipsing the previous program-best 9-9-0 record in 2001.

“Obviously we’re excited about it as a program,” head coach Don Trentham said of the ranking.  “It’s a credit to the hard work the team put in this year, and it’s nice to be recognized as one of the top ten teams in the region.  One of our goals has been to gain respect in the region, and I think we did that this year.  Our next step has to be getting into the top four in the region so we can go to the NCAA Tournament.”

The Lady Jackets had never been regionally ranked before the 2004 season.  They spent three weeks in the top ten during the regular season, reaching as high as ninth.  By finishing in the top ten, the Yellowjackets become the first MSU Billings team besides men’s and women’s basketball to finish a season ranked in the region.

In building a 12-win season, MSU Billings went unbeaten at home with a 9-0-1 record.  The Yellowjackets set school records for goals scored, points scored and goals allowed.  They scored 45 goals and 124 points in 19 games while holding opponents to just 22 goals.

Six players off the 2004 squad finished the season ranked in the top 11 on the school career scoring list.  Senior Margot Merrill-Johnson (Salt Lake City) became the school record holder with 71 career points.  Seniors Stephanie Clark (Tualatin, OR) and Candy Cherry (Missoula, MT) finished their careers ranked seventh and tenth respectively. 

Three players who will return next season also moved onto the all-time scoring list.  Sophomore Ally Taylor (Ojai, CA), who is third with 45 points, will have a chance to catch Merrill-Johnson in two seasons.  Sophomore Alyssa Wolfer (Longmont, CO) and freshman Brittney Sandau (Billings, MT) are already ranked ninth and eleventh respectively. 

NSCAA Far West Region Top 10
1. Seattle Pacific (19-0-1), 2. Seattle University (14-3-3), 3. Cal State-Dominguez Hills (14-5-3), 4. Chico State (11-5-4), 5. UC-San Diego (14-4-1), 6. Cal Poly Pomona (9-7-4), 7. Sonoma State (10-7-1), 8. Cal State-Stanislaus (10-7-3), 9. Western Washington (12-7-1), 10. Montana State-Billings (12-4-3).