September 16, 2007

Sandau’s Hat Trick Carries MSUB Women
Box Score
MSUB Season Statistics
Game Photos

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings senior Brittney Sandau will finish her career as one of the most prolific scorers in school history.  Sunday belonged to younger sister Samantha, however.  The Yellowjacket freshman scored a hat trick and added an assist to lead MSUB to a 6-2 conference win over visiting Saint Martin’s University.

“Sami has been working hard and playing well this year,” said Yellowjacket head coach Don Trentham.  “She’s gotten the start the last two games.  Her success comes from a lot of hard work in training, and when she gets in the game she works hard to be in the right place so she can finish.”

Sandau (Billings) started the scoring early, taking a through ball from Melissa Carlson (Renton, Wash.) and beating the Saints’ Breanna Klasen just 3:45 into the game.  Saint Martin’s answered less than two minutes later when Julianna Sackeyfio sent a free kick from about 35 yards over the head of Yellowjacket keeper Brittany Knudtzon (Kent, Wash.).

The scoring flurry subsided until the 33rd minute when freshman Kari Foreman (Lakewood, Colo.) scored the first of two goals on the day.  Yellowjacket freshmen accounted for five of the team’s six goals.

Sandau broke open the game with back to back goals early in the second half.  Just three minutes into the half, her free kick from 40 yards slipped through Klasen’s fingertips and fell into the goal.  A little over two minutes later, Sandau took a corner kick from sister Brittney and drilled the net from just outside the box.

“I think the offense has had two good games in a row,” Trentham said.  “They’re creating a lot of chances, and they’re finishing.  I was very happy with the offense this week.”

The Saints closed the gap to 4-2 at 59:40 when Ashley Biral’s shot caromed off a defender’s legs and over the outstretched hands of Jordan Fenwick (Boise, Idaho).  Fenwick replaced Knudtzon in goal for the Jackets at halftime.  The Yellowjackets used three goalkeepers in the game with Kaily Hoffman (Fort Collins, Colo.) playing the final 12 minutes.  The appearance was the first for the redshirt freshman.

MSUB sealed the deal with two late goals.  Samantha returned the favor to Brittney at 78:55, slipping a through ball past the defense to set up her sister for a 1-on-1 move on Klasen.  The goal was Brittney’s team-leading fifth of the season.  Foreman netted her second of the day five minutes later, punching it in from point blank range after Chelsea Libby (Puyallup, Wash.) sent a perfect crossing pass across the back line.

The Yellowjackets improved to 6-2-0 overall and 2-0-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Saint Martin’s dropped to 1-5-0, 0-1-0.  MSUB faces a tough road stretch in the next two weeks.  The Jackets play at Western Washington on Sept. 20, at Central Washington on Sept. 22, at Seattle Pacific on Sept. 27, and at Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 29.  They don’t play in Billings again until Oct. 3 when they’ll take on Rocky Mountain College at Daylis Stadium.

“Every conference game is an important game,” said Trentham.  “It’s a very good conference, and every win you can get is important.  We’re happy to get two wins at home this week.  We’re playing well, and for the most part have played well all season.  We’re getting better and doing some positive things.  It’s great to get two wins, but there are still 12 conference games to go, and every one of them will be tough.”