2007-2008 Weekly Release #5 (September 17)

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This Week's Schedule

Sat., Sept. 22 - at Central Washington University, 7:00 p.m., PST

Click HERE for this week's Yellowjacket blog by Abby Bennett and Janica Larsen

Week in Review

Even though the Lady Jackets are fielding many young players, the team has burst onto the Great Northwest Athletic Conference scene with an impressive 5-2-0 overall record and are a perfect 2-0-0 in league play.

MSU Billings opened up the conference schedule going 2-0 against GNAC opponents.  A pair of first half goals and goal in the 70th minute against Western Oregon University sparked the Jackets to their first ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference win last Thursday.  Mandy Ploskonka, Brittney Sandau, and Amy Stephens scored for the Lady Jackets.  MSUB dominated the game statistically outhooting the Wolves 23-3 with a 9-1 shots on goal advantage.

Samantha Sandau

Facing Saint Martin's on Saturday, the Lady Jackets cruised to a 6-2 win with Samantha Sandau stealing the show scoring a hat trick.  Scoring just 3:45 into the contest, Sandau would later score back-to-back goals in a span of 3:24.  Five of the Jackets' six goals in the game were scored by freshman.  Although the Jackets outshot the Saints 25-6 with a 12-2 shots on goal advantage, Saint Martin's made the most of their opportunities scoring both times they shot on goal.

In the omnipotent GNAC, the Lady Jackets are fairing well as a team and as individuals.  As a team, the Jackets are third for both points (56) and goals scored (21).  As predicted, Brittney Sandau ranks in the top three in five categories.  She is second for shots per game (3.29), and third in points (13), points per game (1.86), goals (5), and goals per game (0.71).  Her younger sister is snipping at her heels ranking fifth for points (10), points per game (1.43), and is sixth in goals scored (4).  Junior midfielder Mandy Ploskonka is also ranked sixth for both goals scored (4) and goals per game (0.57).

On the national scene, MSU Billings is ranked 21st for scoring offense (3.0), 57th for goals against average (0.993), and 42nd for won-loss-tied percentage (0.714).  Brittney Sandau ranks 62nd in the nation for points per game (1.86) and 77th for goals per game (.714).  Jackets' keeper Brittany Knudtzon ranks 52nd for goals against average with a 0.915.

Earlier in the week, the NSCAA released the Far West Region poll and the Yellowjackets climbed two spots from last week's ranking of tenth to eighth.  Powerhouses Seattle Pacific and Seattle University hold the top two spots with Western Washington ranked fourth.

GNAC PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK: Janae Godoy, Seattle Pacific (M, 5-4, So., Yakima, WA – West Valley) scored all three of the Falcons’ goals in wins over Central Washington (1-0) and Western Washington (2-1) as SPU improved to 8-0.  Godoy is currently tied for third in the conference with five goals.

HONORABLE MENTION:     Leah Wymer, Seattle (F, 5-6, Sr., Bothell, WA) had two goals and an assist as the Redhawks posted a pair of shutout victories over Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon.  Wymer currently leads the GNAC in scoring with 21 points (9 goals, 3 assists), which is coincidentally her exact goal and assist totals from the 2006 season.  She currently ranks sixth in GNAC history with 88 points (36 goals, 16 assists).  She has already clinched her fourth consecutive 20-point season.

AROUND THE GNAC:  Sisters Samantha and Brittney Sandau combined for five goals and three assists as Montana State Billings earned two home conference victories.  Samantha had a hat trick versus Saint Martin’s, the fifth in the GNAC this fall. . .Seattle University outshot Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon by a combined 44-4 margin as Kaitlyn Jackson needed to make just two saves in posting her 13^th and 14^th career shutouts.  Wymer and Kara Kuttler each had two goals in Friday’s 4-0 win over SMU. . .Sarah Martinez, Meredith Teague and Jessica Gertsmann had assists on Godoy’s goals in Seattle Pacific’s two victories.  For Martinez, it was her 19^th career assist and 99^th career point, leaving her one point short of becoming the third member of the GNAC 100-Point Club.
 

Click HERE for the complete GNAC weekly release

Upcoming Opponents

Western Washington University

Nine different Vikings have scored at least one goal with Amanda Font, Emily Frankland, and Kasey Hostetler netting two goals apiece.  Western's keeper Teresa Fish has recorded 29 saves with a 0.70 goals against average in her 642:14 in the net.

All-time Series: WWU leads the series 3-0
Last Meeting:  WWU defeated MSUB 2-0 on Sept. 27, 2004.

Central Washington University (webpage) - The Wildcats, 3-4-2, 0-2-0, are desperate to break a three-game losing streak with their last two losses against Seattle Pacific and Northwest Nazarene, both GNAC opponents.

The Wildcats will square off against Seattle University on Thursday before hosting the Yellowjackets on Saturday.

Kelsey Penn has scored five of the team's 14 goals this season.  Kaycie Hutchins and Chelsea Lovin have each added three goals with Hutchins picking up three assists.  The Wildcats have outshot their opponents 150-87 but will need to focus on placing their shots on goal as their SOG percentage is a dismal 0.93.  Goalie minutes have been shared by three keepers with Aneesa Gonzales seeing the most playing time.  Gonzales has a 1.39 goals against average and has tackled 13 saves.  As a team, Central Washington has a 1.27 goals against average and have posted 30 saves.

All-time Series: CWU leads the series 5-1
Last Meeting:  MSUB defeated CWU 5-1 on Sept. 18, 2007.

The Stats

Click HERE for current MSU Billings 2007 season statistics

The Standings

2007 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Standings
(Through games of Sept. 18, 2007)

The GNAC Stats Leaders

Click HERE for GNAC Stats Leaders

The NCAA Stats Leaders

Check back next week.

The Polls

The Players

The Last Time in Yellowjacket Women's Soccer

The School Records (records that include 2007-2008 in bold)

Points
Game – 1. Jelisa Guy (14); 2. Brittney Sandau (9); 5. Mandy Ploskonka (7)
Season – 1. Ally Stroup (39); 3. Brittney Sandau/Jelisa Guy (26)
Career – 1. Ally Stroup (109); 4. Brittney Sandau (64); 6. Jelisa Guy (28); 6. Mandy Ploskonka (28)

Goals
Game – 1. Jelisa Guy (5); 3. Brittney Sandua (3)
Season – 1. Ally Stroup (16)
Career – 1. Ally Stroup (40); 4. Brittney Sandau (23)

Game Winning Goals
Season – 1. Ally Stroup/Margot Merrill-Johnson (4); 4. Brittney Sandau/Melissa Carlson (3)
Career – 1. Ally Stroup (12); 3. Brittney Sandau (7)

Assists
Game – 1. Jelisa Guy (4); 3. Mandy Ploskonka/Brittney Sandau (3)
Season – 1. Brittney Sandau (10); 2. Jelisa Guy (8); 8. Mandy Ploskonka (6)
Career – 1. Ally Stroup (29); 2. Brittney Sandau (18); 6. Mandy Ploskonka (10); 7. Jelisa Guy (8)

GK Wins
Season – 1. Megan Plank (13)
Career – 1. Megan Plank (41) 

Saves
Game – 1. Jenny Bunnell (23)
Season – 1. Jenny Bunnell (151)
Career – 1. Megan Plank (336) 

Shutouts
Season – 1. Megan Plank (10)
Career – 1. Megan Plank (23) 

Goals Against Average
Season – 1. Megan Plank (0.77)
Career – 1. Megan Plank (0.95) 

Minutes in Goal
Season – 1. Megan Plank (1868:15)
Career – 1. Megan Plank (6376:53) 

Fastest Goal from Start of Game
1. Kelly Bryn – 0:27 

Games Played
1. Ally Stroup (74); 11. Brittney Sandau (62); 11. Amy Stephens (62)

Games Started
1. Ally Stroup (74); 7. Brittney Sandau (61)

Schedule & Results

The Coaches

Don Trentham, Head Coach
Don Trentham enters his sixth year as head women’s soccer coach at MSU Billings in 2007.  Under Trentham’s direction the program has gone 44-39-7.  He is the winningest coach in the history of the program in terms of both total wins and winning percentage, and his teams have posted the only three winning season in team history.

Trentham attended Columbia College (Missouri) and played for head coach Dan Hogan, who is now head coach at University of Southern Indiana.  At Columbia he was part of an NAIA program that was consistently ranked in the top-20, won two conference tournament championships and twice advanced to the regional tournament.  In his senior year, the team finished 17-5 and was ranked ninth in the nation.

It was during his playing days at Columbia when Trentham began coaching.  He was head coach of two teams for the Columbia Pride Soccer Club and was assistant camp director for Columbia College Soccer Camps during the summer.  In 1998 the Missouri Youth Soccer Association honored Trentham as the Boys’ Coach of the Year.

Trentham began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Florida where he had the chance to work two seasons with one of the finest soccer tacticians in the country – David Gregson.  At Embry-Riddle he assisted in guiding the team to a #16 NAIA National Ranking in the final poll of 1999 season, two NAIA Regional Tournament appearances and a Florida Sun Conference regular season championship.

"I've been very fortunate to have played for and coached with two great people," says Trentham.  "Much of what I learned about the game came from Coach Hogan and David Gregson.  Had it not been for those guys, I don't know if I'd be coaching today."

Aside from his head coaching duties with the team at MSU Billings, Trentham also plays an active role in developing players throughout the state and the region.  Over the past two years he has served as the u13 and u14 girls head coach for the Magic City Soccer Club, guiding each team he has coached to Montana State Championships.  In the past he has also coached in the Olympic Development Program serving as the ODP girl's head coach for Montana, as well as an ODP staff coach for Region IV.  Furthermore, he holds many camps, clinics, tournaments, and leagues during the course of the year for both adult and youth players throughout the state.

Trentham earned his bachelor of arts in education from Columbia College and a master's of education in sport management from East Stroudsburg University.  He holds an "A" license from the United States Soccer Federation, as well as an Advanced National license from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. 

Ally Stroup, Assistant Coach

The 2007 season will be Stroup’s first as the Yellowjackets’ women’s assistant soccer coach.  She is a 2007 graduate from MSU Billings, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology with a minor in coaching and graduating cum laude.  

“Ally is a great addition to the coaching staff here at MSUB,” said Director of Soccer and Head Women’s Coach Don Trentham.  “She had a terrific career and a major impact here as a player, and I am confident she will have as big an impact, if not bigger, on our program as a coach.  She knows the game very well and has a tremendous passion for MSUB soccer, and it will be exciting to see her pass on her knowledge and passion to the players in the program.”

As a player, Stroup was a four year starter and two-time captain for the Yellowjackets.  Her freshmen season she was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-West Region Second Team.  As a junior, she received the following honors: MSU Billings Most Valuable Student-Athlete, Heartland All-Conference Team, Scholar-Athlete by her teammates, and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII Second Team.  For her senior season, she received the following honors:  ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII Second Team, Dakrtonics All-Midwest Region Team, Scholar-Athlete and MVP by her teammates, NSCAA/adidas College Scholar All-West Region Team, NSCAA/adidas Women’s Soccer Scholar All-America College Division First Team. 

At one point during her senior season, the team was ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Region and ranked nationally in the top 10.  Stroup finished her MSU Billings career as the school record holder for career goals, assists, points, game winning goals, and games started. 

Stroup plans to begin her Masters of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at MSU Billings in the spring of 2008.  She is married to Garret Stroup, a 2006 graduate of MSU Billings.