BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team fell just short in its return to Billings for its first home conference game of the season, losing 1-0 to Central Washington University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
The Yellowjackets (2-3-4, 2-2-1 GNAC) were outshot 12-1 overall and 6-1 in shots on goal by the Wildcats (2-5-3, 2-2-1 GNAC), but a strong defensive effort saw the hosts hold the game level for a large portion of the match. A 62nd-minute penalty kick from the Wildcats proved to be the difference on the night, with the Yellowjackets unable to counter that blow.
Tenley Leffler made four saves in net, with a number of other key interventions on crosses and through balls, while Emmersyn Burckley attempted MSUB's lone shot in the match.
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The Wildcats attempted the game's first four shots, putting pressure on the MSUB backline early, but three of those efforts were blocked, with Leffler pulling out her first save of the game in the 10th minute on the other shot. The Yellowjackets then found their lone look of the game in the 17th minute on a shot from Burckley, but that effort was denied by CWU goalkeeper Danika Galbraith, keeping the game level. Central Washington attempted four more shots in the half, with three shots on goal, but each of those looks was denied by Leffler, keeping the action level heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Wildcats attempted four shots, nearly opening the scoring in the 54th minute after Shannah Mellick found room to fire a shot that nearly went in, with a crucial block from Kelsie Cox keeping the visitors scoreless. That changed in the 63rd minute when Kylee Schreck was pulled down in the box by a Yellowjacket defender, drawing a penalty kick call from the referee. Schreck then stepped up and slotted the ball past Leffler to give Central Washington a 1-0 lead from the spot. The game saw just one more shot from either team the rest of the way, with the two teams battling in the midfield until the end, and MSUB unable to find an opportunity to pull level.
The Buzz: Vivian Gaither was named the Player of the Game. She, along with Leffler and Cox, was one of six Yellowjackets who played a full 90 minutes, joining Ava Gibbs, Cianna Sexton and Ava Curtright.
MSUB is back on its home field this Saturday, October 3, for the team's annual MSUB Kicks Cancer Game, where the Yellowjackets will wear pink uniforms as they take on Northwest Nazarene University. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Yellowjacket Soccer Field, with live video available on the GNAC Network and live statistics available here. Tickets are available for purchase online here.
