BILLINGS, Mont. - The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team earned a 0-0 draw with Montana State University Billings Thursday, August 27 at the Yellowjacket Soccer Field in Billings, Mont. Phoenix DeBrusk (So., GK, Thunder Bay, Ontario) earned her first career clean sheet in net, making six saves including several crucial stops in net to keep the Yellowjackets out of the frame.
Minnesota Crookston opens the season with a 0-0-1 mark, as does Montana State Billings. The Golden Eagles pick up their first point ever against the Yellowjackets. Minnesota Crookston had not played Montana State Billings since 2009, but came into the series with three losses. The Golden Eagles open the season with a draw for the second-consecutive season, after earning a draw with Upper Iowa University last season.
Montana State Billings had eight shots, with six on goal. Minnesota Crookston notched four shots with three on frame. The Yellowjackets tallied four corners, with three for the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston earned shots on goal from Kedin Geremiah (Sr., MF/F, Winnipeg, Manitoba), Aleisha Cortez (So., MF/F, South St. Paul, Minn.), and Lilly Oelrich (Fr., D, Savage, Minn.).Â
Tenley Leffler had the clean sheet for the Yellowjackets in goal. She made three saves Thursday. Emerson Burckley and Kennedy Craig led MSUB with two shots on goal.
Burckley tallied the first shot on goal in the tilt in the fourth minute for the Yellowjackets. Minnesota Crookston had their first major chance in the 14th minute with an opportunity squashed by Leffler from Cortez. Montana State Billings had back-to-back chances put away by DeBrusk from Craig and Burckley in the 28th minute.
MSUB had the first chance in the second half, with a shot on goal from Kolbi Kiblen, saved by DeBrusk in the 54th minute. The Golden Eagles quickly turned it into an opportunity from Oelrich in the 55th minute, followed by a Geremiah chance in the 59th minute. Montana State Billings had the final two opportunities in the game, both squashed by DeBrusk on attempts from Craig and Cesia Swain.
The Golden Eagles will remain on the road to face Black Hills State University Saturday, August 29 in Rapid City, S.D.
