Box Score
Box Score

Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings women's soccer team has had a very successfully 2012 campaign thus far, upsetting nationally ranked opponents en route to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament championship match. As the Yellowjackets tried to complete their GNAC tournament run, they unfortunately were edged by Western Washington 2-0.
 
Western Washington has been a team of destiny all season. They finished the regular season 15-3 and won the regular season title with a record of 12-2. Saturday afternoon they added to this resume by winning the inaugural GNAC Championship tournament.
 
The first half did not see much action as there was a total of six shots between both teams. Western Washington landed two shots on target but freshman Aiko Johnson denied both attempts recording saves on each attempt. Chelsea Shuman took the lone attempt for the Yellowjackets that landed on goal, but could not find success as the Vikings' Jamie Arthurs saved the attempt.
 
MSUB and Western Washington entered the break notch at 0-0.
 
Western Washington increased their tempo in the second half, taking a shot within the first two minutes of the half. While this attempt landed high, their next would find success.
 
At 56:26 Joana Houplin scored her fourth goal of the season, chipping a shot over Johnson's head to give the Vikings the 1-0 advantage.
 
MSUB countered with shots by Jennifer Larsen, Shuman and Whitney Siler; but neither would produce any goals as Siler's shot was the only attempt on target but was stopped by Arthurs.
 
Following a foul at 79:10 that shifted possession back to Western Washington, the Vikings would capitalize off their next attack. At 81:12 Catherine Miles scored the second goal of the contest, netting a shot in the far left of the goal. Kristin Maris was credited with the assist. Now with a 2-0 lead, Western Washington had a firm grip on the match.
 
Courtney Harvey took the last shot attempt for MSUB that landed on target but Arthurs remained solid on the day and registered her fifth save. The Vikings would go on to capture their 17^th victory and the GNAC Tournament Championship.
 
MSUB was outshot 14-8 and the Vikings held the slight advantage in shots on target (6-5). The Yellowjackets had three corner kicks compared to Western Washington's two. Johnson finished with four saves on the day.
 
Finishing with a 13-6-1 overall record and 8-5-1 GNAC record, MSUB will await a decision from the NCAA selection committee to see if they will be selected to compete in the NCAA West Regional Tournament.