(Editor's note: MSUB Athletics release)
PORTLAND, Ore. – A total of 10 players from the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team earned academic all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors for the 2020-21 academic year, announced the conference office on Tuesday.
Among the Yellowjackets’ selections were three players who earned the award for the third time in their career, four repeat selections, and three first-time academic picks. “I am very proud of these student-athletes who have been able to juggle an incredibly challenging last year and still excel in the classroom,” said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. “Our team makes zero excuses when it comes to its academics, and this lot just represents the true commitment to the student-athlete experience. They are great role models for our younger players as well as potential recruits, and I am so proud of this group for leaving a mark of academic success on the program.”
Seniors Rachel Lythgoe, Erinn Harder, and Hallie Vervair each earned the academic award for the third time in their career. Navigating extensive injuries over the last four seasons, Lythgoe has seen action in 22 matches during her MSUB career. Studying in the public relations graduate program at MSUB, Lythgoe carries a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Harder has started 39 games in goal in her career as a Yellowjacket, racking up 152 saves to rank her fifth in school history. Harder has a 3.69 GPA and is completing her degree in psychology.
Another four-year player on the pitch for the ‘Jackets, Vervair has seen action in 44 matches and has started 28 since the fall of 2017. She is an education major who carries a 3.53 GPA.
Juniors Lexie Bloyder, Josie Corbin, Haylee Gunter, and Lindsey Meyer earned academic honors for the second consecutive season. Bloyder has started 18 matches and played in 37 in her MSUB career, totaling four goals and an assist for nine points. She has started all four of MSUB’s games this spring and has one goal. Bloyder is a communications major with a 3.67 GPA.
Corbin has played in 35 matches in her MSUB career while making seven starts including four this spring. She holds a 3.84 GPA while studying elementary education. Gunter has seen action in 38 matches with 32 starts, and captains the team this spring through its four games played so far. Gunter has scored five goals and added two assists thus far in her career. She holds a 3.88 GPA and is a health and human performance major.
Meyer scored her second-career goal earlier this spring, and has played in 24 matches so far as a Yellowjacket. She has a 3.89 GPA and is also a health and human performance major.
Redshirt sophomore Emily Gaines, senior Summer Miles, and sophomore Kiley Sandow each earned the award in their first year of eligibility to receive it. Gaines scored her first goal as a Yellowjacket in MSUB’s recent 3-0 win against University of Mary, and she has overcome major injuries to play in 13 games so far in her career. Gaines holds a 3.82 GPA and is a psychology major.
Miles earned minutes in 15 matches with 13 starts in her first year as a Yellowjacket, as a junior in 2019. She scored a goal and also had an assist for three points. Miles is a science major with a 3.46 GPA.
Sandow was a key role player as a freshman in 2019 as she played in all 17 matches and scored a pair of goals while starting three times. Sandow is one of the four players in the conference to hold a perfect 4.0 GPA, and is studying health and human performance.
To earn academic all-conference, players must be in at least their second season with the team and carry a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.20.
MSUB (2-2) is next in action on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Northwest Nazarene University and Friday at 7:30 p.m. at College of Idaho. Live coverage for this week’s matches can be found online here [msubsports.com].
