BILLINGS, Mont. – The Rocky Mountain College women's soccer team handed Eastern Oregon University a 4-0 loss in non-conference play Sunday.
The Bears (3-0) took 24 shots in the match, 16 more than EOU. Rocky Mountain put 12 shots on goal, while the Mountaineers had four. RMC also had a 7-1 corner kick advantage. The Battlin' Bears committed 12 fouls, compared to Eastern's five.
“We definitely played much better today than yesterday,” EOU head coach Jennifer Simonetti said. “We just didn't capitalize when we had the chances so their untimely goals all occurred right after we would have a good attacking stretch and that kept shifting momentum. You could tell we had played 96 minutes the day before, and RMC was fresh to play but we didn't give up or let down.
“It was a much more athletic and physical game overall, but we are working together better. Our starting lineup will probably include six freshmen moving forward, so it's a challenge to get their work rate and physicality to match their talent level on the field.”
Kirsty Montignani found the back of the net twice and had an assist for Rocky Mountain. She took six shots, putting three on the net. Mandi Achten and Jaelene Zygmond both took five shots. Malin Johansson made a trio of saves in the RMC net.
Achten found the net in the 15th minute off an assist from Danielle Wilcox. Montignani recorded her assist in the 34th minute when she played a ball to Jamee Robbins for the goal. After leading 2-0 at halftime, Montignani added the third and fourth goals in the second half. The first came in the 62nd minute off an Achten assist, and the second came 14 minutes later with an assist from Johansson.
Eastern Oregon's Kaeliana DeVera and Claire Posadas both had three shots. Posadas and Quincy Moore put two shots on goal. Kailey Moss stopped five Rocky Mountain shots.
“I thought Carolyn (Danek) played really well in the back as did Claire (Posadas) up top,” Simonetti said. “We have to continue to make baby steps and steady progress until conference play.”
The Mountaineers (0-2) travel to Nampa, Idaho, to face Northwest Nazarene University Thursday. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT.