SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's soccer team heads to Billings, Montana, to play the University of Mary and Montana State University Billings at the Rimrock Classic. The Yellow Jackets take on the Marauders on Thursday, September 6, before playing host MSU Billings on Saturday, September 8.

Scouting the Marauders (0-0)
The University of Mary, located in Bismarck, N.D., plays in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Marauders finished the 2017 season with a 12-5-2 overall record, and were 9-4-2 in conference play. They were recently selected to finish seventh in the NSIC in the Preseason Poll, after finishing fifth last season.

The Marauders return four seniors who earned conference honors last season. Caitlin Dooley helped lead the defense, while Megan Lowery scored seven goals and had two assists, and both earned NSIC Second Team honors. Jade Smith led Mary with eight goals, and Caylin Cathey had six goals. Both players made the Third Team. Thursday's match against BHSU will be the first of the year for Mary.

Scouting the Yellowjackets (1-0-1)
Montana State University Billings is located in Billings, Mont., and plays in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. After finishing seventh in the conference last season, the Yellowjackets were selected to finish seventh again this year. MSUB was 3-12-2 overall, with a 2-8-2 conference record in 2017. The Yellowjackets opened the season with a 1-1 draw with Colorado Christian, before defeating Wayne State College, 2-0.

Three different players have scored for MSUB so far in 2018, including Amanda Grimshaw, who also has an assist to lead the squad with three points. Time in goal has been split during the young season, with Lili Delgadillo (1-0) playing 90 minutes and making four saves, and Erinn Harder (0-0-1) playing 110 minutes, making four saves.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets (0-3)
Black Hills State University opened the season taking on Minot State, Northern State, and the University of Sioux Falls. Although the Yellow Jackets have yet to find the net, Rachel Erickson and Rose Miller have both recorded four shots to lead the squad, with all four of Erickson's shots on frame.  Dz-Rae Jara started all three games in goal, allowing eight goals in 210 minutes.

Last Time They Met
When BHSU and Mary met in 2017, the Marauders took a 1-0 lead in the series. Last year's meeting between the Yellow Jackets and Yellowjackets was also the first in the series, with MSUB leading, 1-0.

Up Next
Following this weekend's games, the Green and Gold open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, traveling to Fort Lewis and Adams State on September 14 and 16.  
  Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.