Stroup, Bennett Receive Heartland Honors (9/13/05)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings women’s soccer players Ally Stroup and Abby Bennett have each been named Heartland Conference players of the week.  Stroup was the co-offensive player of the week along with Incarnate Word’s Amber Cole.  Bennett was the defensive player of the week.

Stroup, a junior midfielder from Ojai, CA, had three goals, one assist, and seven points to lead the Yellowjackets to a 3-0 record last week.  In the Yellowjackets’ 1-0 upset of regionally ranked St. Mary’s on Monday she had an assist.  She scored both goals in Saturday’s 2-0 win over University of Mary.  On Sunday Stroup had a goal while playing just a half in the Jackets’ 4-0 blanking of University of Great Falls.  For the Season Stroup has five goals, three assists and 13 points in seven games.  Her 13 points leads all scorers in the conference and her five goals and three assists tie her for first.

After moving to the defensive midfield because of injuries, Bennett anchored the Yellowjacket defense in three shutout wins.  The sophomore from Livingston, MT, played a key role in the Jackets’ upset of St. Mary’s, the Midwest Region’s fifth-ranked team.  In the three shutouts last week, Yellowjacket goalkeepers needed to make just five total saves thanks to the play of Bennett and the Yellowjacket defenders.  MSU Billings defenders lead the Heartland Conference with four shutouts and a 0.55 goals against average.