MATCH #5
Western Oregon (3-3, 0-1 GNAC) at Montana State Billings (0-4-1, 0-0 GNAC)
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at 2 p.m. MT
Billings, Mont. – Yellowjacket Soccer Field
LIVE STATS/VIDEO
 
MATCH #6
Western Oregon (3-3, 0-1 GNAC) vs. Northwest Nazarene (2-4, 0-1 GNAC)
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at 1 p.m. PT
Monmouth, Ore. – WOU Soccer Field
LIVE STATS/VIDEO
 
SPLIT-WEEK UPCOMING, YOUTH DAY & MEET THE WOLVES ON SATURDAY
GNAC play continues as Western Oregon travels to Montana State Billings on Thursday, Sept. 22 before coming home for a match on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. against Northwest Nazarene. The match on the 24^th will be Youth Soccer Day – all kids in a soccer uniform get in for free and we will have prizes from US Youth Soccer. Fans will also have a chance to Meet the Wolves with an autograph signing after the match. The match against NNU will also be televised on KWVT with coverage in Salem and online at WOUWolves.com/Live.  
 
ONE WIN, ONE LOSS LAST WEEK
Western Oregon split two matches last week after defeating Oregon Tech, 3-1, on Sept. 12 at home and falling on the road, 2-0, at No. 17 Western Washington on Sept. 17. In the match win against OIT, Taylor Higa posted her third goal of the year connecting to the left post. Mariah Konyn had the game-winner late in the first half from the middle of the box off an assist from Sydney Thomas. Higa assisted on the first goal of the year from Meli Cortez from eight yards out. Caitlin Kastelic had five saves in the winning effort. On Saturday, the host Vikings of WWU controlled the momentum of the match offensively scoring a goal in each half to post a 2-0 win. Cortez paced the club with two shots while six others tallied one shot. Kastelic had eight more saves to push her season total to 47.

ROSTER FAMILIARITY AND SOMETHING NEW
The Wolves' roster in 2016 features 15 letterwinners from last year's roster, but only three starters that appeared in every match. Seniors Mariah Konyn (1 goal, 2 assists), Taylor Higa (2 goals, 2 assists) and Dani Payne (1 goal) will see returning reserves assume starting spot and featured newcomers to bolster the WOU attack. Allison Sprecher is the club's returning leader in scoring with three goals over 17 matches. Highlighting the newcomers is Salem native Meli Cortez, who returns to the Willamette Valley after playing two seasons at Division I Idaho. Youth will also be prevalent for the Wolves as 10 freshmen comprise nearly half the roster.
 
YOUTH IN GOAL
Speaking of the freshmen, two will be charged with protecting shots from opponents this year for WOU - Caitlin Kastelic (Hillsboro) and Samantha Harris (Tualatin). Kastelic was a three-time league selection at Glencoe High School while Harris anchored the back line for perennial power Tualatin.
 
SISTER, SISTER
Mariah Konyn will have a familiar familial face with her on the WOU women's soccer team this season as her sister, Selene Konyn, joins the squad. Selene was a Midwestern League 1st-team selection, 2nd-team all-Oregon honors and a product of the Eugene Timbers Futbol Club.
 
UP NEXT
The first two matches of a three-match span away from Monmouth begins when WOU faces Central Washington (Sept. 29) and Simon Fraser (Oct. 1) in GNAC play next week.

ABOUT MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
The Yellowjackets (0-4-1) are looking for their first match victory after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Collge of Idaho in their lone match last week. Dana Lubieniecki has two of the four MSUB goals this season. Goalkeeper Lili Delgdillo has made 27 saves and posts a 1.90 goals against average.
 
All-time Series: Montana State Billings leads 9-8-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 24, 2015, MSUB won 1-0 in Monmouth

ABOUT NORTHWEST NAZARENE
Northwest Nazarene (2-4) will play their first matches away from home since Sept. 3 when they played Cal State East Bay. Last week, the Crusaders were defeated by visiting Seattle Pacific, 3-0. Seven different NNU players have netted a goal, led by Madi Taylor with two. Danielle Ortiz has seen action in all 540 minutes in goal making 33 saves with a 2.00 GAA.
 
All-time Series: Western Oregon leads 24-9-5
Last Meeting: Oct. 22, 2015, Western Oregon won 3-1 in Monmouth