Early Saint Martin’s goal sinks Yellowjackets

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team was bested by Saint Martin's University on Thursday evening, falling 1-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

The Yellowjackets (2-5-4, 2-4-1 GNAC) and Saints (2-9-1, 1-6-0) played close throughout, with the teams finishing the game nearly equal on shots in an end-to-end affair. The difference-making moment came from Saint Martin's in the third minute, with an early goal proving to be the game winner for the Saints, who held MSUB off the rest of the match to collect the win.

Macee Abraham led MSUB with four shots, attempting one shot on goal. Amaya Lorash put her lone look of the game on target for MSUB's other shot on goal in the match, while Kennedy Craig took two shots, and Jordyn Daigle and Kolbi Kiblen each shot once. Tenley Leffler finished with a pair of saves.

Lorash attempted the game's first shot in the opening minute for the Yellowjackets, forcing an early save, but the Saints turned around on the counter and converted their first look of the game just two minutes later to take an early lead. From there the two squads traded chances, with Abraham shooting three times in the first 17 minutes for MSUB, including another shot on goal. Neither goalkeeper budged from there, and neither team was able to find an angle for a shot after the 24^th minute, sending the game to halftime with Saint Martin's holding a narrow lead.

The teams continued to swap momentum as the second half commenced, with the Saints taking the majority of early looks in the half. MSUB turned the attacking momentum back on the Saints with five shots in a 14-minute span but was unable to find an equalizer in that stretch, while Saint Martin's held on despite the Yellowjackets' late push to take the victory.

The Buzz: Abraham was named the Player of the Game in her first career start for the Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjackets will finish off their home stand on Saturday, October 10 with a matchup against Seattle Pacific University. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Yellowjacket Soccer Field, with tickets available online here. Live video can be found on the GNAC Network, and live statistics are available here.