BILLINGS, Mont. – With playoff implications on the line, Western Oregon University's soccer team fell to Montana State Billings, 1-0, in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) action Saturday on Yellowjacket Field.
Against the second-best team in the GNAC, Western Oregon (6-6-4, 4-4-4 GNAC) could only muster three total shots with MSU Billings (9-3-2, 7-3-2 GNAC) tallying 11 shots that included a 7-to-2 advantage in the first half.
MSUB's Dana Lubieniecki scored the game's only goal in the 28th minute for her first goal of the season. Lubieniecki began the scoring play with a pass to Jessica Spang, who returned the ball right back to Lubieniecki before she turned and rifled a left-footed shot into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner at 27:55.
Neither team would score again for the remainder of the first half, as the Yellowjackets held Western Oregon to a mere two shots without either of them being on-target.
The second half would be a defensive battle, as the two teams combined to register five shots with MSUB tallying four versus WOU's one.
Senior goalkeeper
Amanda Rose Johnson registered a game-high six saves for Western Oregon, while MSUB's Krystal Daniels did not have to make a save en route to earning her seventh shutout of the season.
Overall, Montana State Billings registered eight more shots (11-to-3) than Western Oregon and also earned a 4-to-2 advantage in corner kicks. The Wolves were whistled for eight fouls, while MSUB was called for seven.
Western Oregon will begin its final weekend of the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 30, against Seattle Pacific University beginning at 7:00 PM in Seattle, Washington.
