BILLINGS, Mont. – The home team picked up a couple of early goals, but that didn't stop the Western Oregon University women's soccer team from getting right back in it. Trailing 2-0 after the first 20 minutes, the Wolves tallied a late first half goal and made a push in the second half before Montana State Billings held on for the 2-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win Thursday at a windy Yellowjacket Soccer Field.
Both teams had the chance of playing with and against a strong wind on the day and the numbers showed the chances each team had combining for 33 shots. MSUB held the slight 17-16 edge and both teams tallied seven shots on goal. WOU held a slight 8-7 lead in shots through the first 45 minutes and MSUB held a 10-8 edge over the final 45 minutes. The Wolves had a 4-2 corner kick advantage and there were 16 fouls whistled, nine on the 'Jackets.
Chloe Smith led the way in shots with six, landing two on goal. Piper Matson added five shots, with three on goal. Jenna Efraimson recorded a pair of shots. Efraimson, Matson, Hannah Rispler, Smith, Erika Gonzalez Moreno and Camille Darland played all 90 minutes. Holly Schmitz logged 81 minutes off the bench. In goal, Darien Walton started and played the first half coming away with a save. Olivia Holdenried played the second half and collected three saves to keep the 'Jackets off the board over the final 45 minutes.
WOU (5-8-2, 4-5-2 GNAC) had an opportunity right away in the fourth minute when a shot by Lilly Nowatzke was saved by Clare Keenan. Right after that, MSUB (6-7-3, 3-6-2 GNAC) tallied the first goal of the game in the fifth minute on a shot by Liberty Palmer.
The Wolves nearly evened the score with a couple of chances around the 17-18-minute mark, with Smith's shot being saved and Alyssa Talkington's chance missing.
A few minutes later, the Yellowjackets recorded their second goal of the game. In the 20th minute, Haylee Gunter knocked home the goal after her first attempt was blocked for the 2-0 lead.
WOU kept the pressure up for the remainder of the first half and it finally paid off in the final minutes. In the 42nd minute, Matson ripped a shot near the center that was saved by Keenan, but off the rebound Kaytlyn Larsen was there to deliver her second goal of the season and leave MSUB with a slight 2-1 lead.
Following a couple of rushes that just missed for the Wolves to begin the second half, MSUB nearly reclaimed their two-goal lead with a flurry around the 64th minute. The 'Jackets fired three straight shots on goal with Holdenried turning away the first two. On the third attempt, the back line of WOU was able to clear the chance just in time to keep it a 2-1 game.
That ignited the Wolves with Smith's shot being saved just moments later and then a couple of shots by Efraimson nearly found the back of the net, hitting the crossbar and then just missing wide left.
Down the stretch, Matson made another run and took a mid-ranged shot that was saved by Keenan in the 83rd minute. WOU had a couple of more rushes that just missed the remainder of the game and MSUB held on for the 2-1 victory.
Palmer and Jordan Roe led the Yellowjackets with four shots apiece, with Palmer putting two on goal including the first goal of the game. Gunter and Leila Clark added three shots apiece, with Gunter placing two on goal including what would be the game-winning goal. Keenan started in goal and played all 90 minutes, coming away with six saves.
WOU continues the road trip as they will now travel to Washington to face #4 Seattle Pacific on Saturday afternoon starting at 2 p.m.
