MSUB Men's Soccer Preview 9/2/2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, September 2, 2015 MSUB men’s soccer opens 2015 regular season Friday

After winning three preseason games by a combined score of 15-4, the MSUB men’s soccer team heads into this weekend’s regular-season opener with momentum and confidence.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Perhaps the area garnering the most attention during the offseason from the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer coaching staff was last season’s negative goal differential of 23 goals scored and 28 allowed.

If the Yellowjackets’ three exhibition games in 2015 are any indication of the steps head coach Alex Balog has taken to improve upon that mark, then MSUB is already headed in the right direction.

Beginning with a tight, 3-2 win over Lethbridge University, the ‘Jackets followed up with a 4-1 win over Northwest College and a loud 8-1 triumph over Western Nebraska Community College last week. All told, the ‘Jackets outscored their opponents 15-4 over the three preseason games, with seven different players finding the net and seven different players providing assists.

“This has been the best preseason since I have been here,” commented Balog. “We have a big incoming class, and those guys have hit the ground running. We have excellent leadership on the team, and if you look at the three games we have played, there has been a noticeable improvement.”

Now the ‘Jackets will be put to the test in games that count, as MSUB opens its 2015 campaign this weekend with a pair of neutral site games hosted by Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. On Friday, MSUB will challenge Cal State San Marcos, before facing Metro State University on Sunday. Both games are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff, with live statistics available via www.msubsports.com.

“We know these are two tough division two teams that we are going to play,” commented senior midfielder Fernando Perez. “The tempo is going to be up, but I think we are ready for it and they are going to be very good matches.”

Leading the scoring frenzy has been sophomore Ricardo Palomino, who scored five goals during the preseason including all four in MSUB’s victory over Northwest.

“We had to go after someone who could hold the ball up top and get other players involved in the play, and I think we have found that with Ricardo Palomino,” Balog said of the Puebla, Mexico native. “He completely changed the dynamic of the game against Northwest, and with Julian and David around him they are clicking.”

Julian Toenges and David Loeung have been involved in MSUB’s scoring more often than not, with the former scoring three times and adding an assist and the latter scoring once and turning in three assists. Sam Butterworth had an impressive showing with two goals and three assists in the big win over Western Nebraska, and Thiago Novis, Rhys Lambert, and Kyle Davis each also scored a goal for MSUB during the preseason.

Junior Julian Toenges.

Defensively, MSUB had its best game against Western Nebraska, holding its opponent to just four shots and not allowing a corner kick. “I have been really impressed with all of the recruits who have all come in and done very well straight away,” commented junior defender Tom Saltwell. “My freshman and sophomore year, what we had been lacking mainly is being clinical up front. Now with Ricardo coming in, he has been linking up amazingly well with David (Loeung), and everyone is pulling their weight.”

Friday, September 4 – Cal State San Marcos Cougars – 5:30 p.m.

2015 Record: 0-0 Head Coach: Ron Pulvers, 9th season 2014 Record: 13-4 The Cougars will also be making their 2015 regular season debut, after a strong 13-4 campaign last year. CSUSM is in the process of transitioning from the NAIA into the NCAA Division II, and will be playing its first full schedule as part of the California Collegiate Athletic Association this season.

Looking to replace its top two goal scorers from last season, CSUSM said goodbye to Sullivan Tobin (10 goals) and Eric Lopez (9 goals) after the 2014 campaign. Dustin Scibilia returns as a senior defender who scored four goals last year, as does forward Thor English who found the net three times.

As a team CSUSM overpowered its opponents, holding a scoring margin of plus-20 at 41 goals scored and 21 allowed.

The Cougars return a pair of goalkeepers who split minutes last season, as seniors Zach Sheppard and Landon Sherwood will again figure to compete for minutes between the pipes.

Under the guidance of head coach Ron Pulvers, CSUSM won the 2011 Association of Independent Institutions championship and was the runner up in 2009 and 2010. Overall since the program made its debut in 2006, Pulvers has led his squad to a record of 89-52-13.

The Series: Friday’s encounter will be the first-ever between the two teams.

Sunday, September 6 – Metro State University Denver – 5:30 p.m.

2015 Record: 0-0 Head Coach: Jeremy Tittle, 7th season 2014 Record: 10-8, 7-7 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference The Roadrunners will get their 2015 season underway on Friday against Dixie State before taking on the ‘Jackets on Sunday. Coming off a 10-8 mark in 2014, MSUD picked up a 3-1 victory over Laramie County Community College in an exhibition match on Aug. 26.

Junior Josh Belfrage scored the final goal in the exhibition match for the ‘Runners, indicated he is poised to repeat or improve upon last season’s team-best nine goals. MSUD’s co-leader in scoring from last year, Danny Arrubla, also returns to the pitch after scoring nine times and adding four assists in 2014.

Overall the Roadrunners outscored opponents 34-28, with three different players seeing time in goal. Leading the way with 11 starts tending the net was James Tanner, a junior who returns to the team this year after posting an 8-3 record in 2014.

Head coach Jeremy Tittle begins his seventh season at the helm of the program, and has posted an overall record of 6941-10 at MSUD. The Series: The Yellowjackets have never defeated the Roadrunners, with MSUD holding an alltime 7-0-1 record against MSUB. Five of the eight matchups have been decided by one goal or less, and MSUD has won the last three each by the score of 2-1.

Last Time Out: The teams have not met since a 2008 neutral site game in Salt Lake City, Utah which the Roadrunners won 2-1.

“For us, the focus is really going to be on ourselves,” Balog commented on the Yellowjackets’ opponents this weekend.

“We don’t want to adapt too much to them. We have the talent, and we have the work rate, and with that I think we can be successful against those two teams. If we can take the offense that we have had in the preseason into those two games, they are going to have a tough time stopping us.”

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