SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Alisa Sagdahl scored her second goal of the season in the 67th minute and Jessica Spang added one more in the 84th as Montana State University Billings defeated the University of Sioux Falls 2-0 Friday evening at the USF Sports Complex.

The victory pushed MSUB to 2-0 on the season, while USF fell to 0-2-1. "We are happy to go into conference play 2-0," said head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. "The defense was very strong tonight and it was good to get a shutout."
 
Freshman Jessica Spang came through with the first points of her collegiate career, as she provided an assist on Sagdahl's goal in addition to her goal. "We got a big performance by Jessica tonight as she topped off a good outing with a goal and an assist," said Krakowiak.
 
As a team, MSUB held a strong 21-5 advantage in shots, including a 9-1 mark in shots on target. For the Cougars, Jordin Crosby notched six saves and Alexandria Scott had the only shot on frame.
 
MSUB goalkeeper Krystal Daniels made one save on the game, notching her first shutout of the season. "Krystal had a strong game and managed the defense very well," said Krakowiak.
 
MSUB threatened early on, earning four corner kicks over the span of nine minutes. Sagdahl's first shot of the game came in the 24th minute but sailed wide to the right. Chelsea Shuman had a look on goal but it was knocked down, as the duo placed early pressure on the Cougars' back line.
 
Crosby was tested later on in the first half, making saves on back-to-back shots by Ashely Marra and Sagdahl that were headed towards goal.
 
MSUB kept the pressure on, as Kari Kastelic had a shot blocked by the USF defense and Crosby came up with another save on a shot by Katlyn Lokay a few seconds later. Sagdahl nearly put MSUB in front just before halftime, but her shot in the 34th minute was saved by Crosby.
 
Elizabeth Howard and Sagdahl opened the second half with an exclamation point, each firing shots towards goal that were blocked. The 'Jackets continued with a steady diet of looks on target, but saves on shots by Spang and Sagdahl and a near miss by Lokay kept the score at 0-0 moving into the middle of the second.
 
Sagdahl finally broke through in the 67th minute, tucking away a left-footed shot for her second goal in as many games.
 
Scott took a pair of shots for USF following the Yellowjackets' goal, but each missed wide of the frame.
 
Keeping possession as the clock wound down, MSUB found itself with several golden scoring opportunities late in the match. Shuman had a shot blocked in the 81st minute, and a header by Kastelic off of a corner feed from Sagdahl missed high over the crossbar.
 
Closing the game strong, Spang left no doubt as she put away MSUB's second goal in the 84th minute into the back right of the net.
 
"We are excited to finally start conference play next week," Krakowiak said.
 
COMING UP: After completing its preseason schedule 2-0, MSUB gets set to take on Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents Western Oregon and Saint Martin's next weekend. The 'Jackets are on the road to face the Wolves on Thursday at 3 p.m. (PST) in Monmouth, Ore., followed by a 1 p.m. (PST) start against the Saints on Sept. 20 in Lacey, Wash.