FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, September 9, 2016 Novis’ goal, Lohmann’s saves lead MSUB men to 1-0 win over Dixie State Friday
Thiago Novis scores the first goal of the season for MSUB’s men’s soccer team, and Tom Lohmann makes six key saves as the Yellowjackets shut out Dixie State 1-0 at home on Thursday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Six crucial saves by Montana State University Billings men’s soccer goalkeeper Tom Lohmann helped a first-half goal by Thiago Novis hold as the game-winner, as the Yellowjackets defeated Dixie State University 1-0 on Friday at Yellowjacket Field in the Third Annual Rimrock Classic. The shutout victory stood as the first win of the year for the ‘Jackets, who improved to 1-2 overall. Dixie State meanwhile is still in search of its first victory, falling to 0-3 with the defeat. “This win means an incredible amount, because we got a performance where all of our guys worked extremely hard and came together,” said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. “The road is long, and this is part of the process, but we keep grinding and working every day.”
An early corner kick gave the ‘Jackets a chance in the opening five minutes, but Rhys Lambert’s shot was flicked wide as he ran onto a cross by Flavio Colasanti. Starting at center back for the first time this year, Lambert played the full 90 minutes and paired with Oliver Posarelli in the back to cement the win. “Today was the first day I played with Rhys on the back line, and there was really good chemistry between us,” said Posarelli. “We were playing like we have known each other for a long time.” Finding the net midway through the first, Novis curled home a shot inside the right goal post from 10 yards out. The goal came after Julian Toenges took the ball from a defender in the corner, dribbled towards the box, and placed a pass right onto Novis’ foot for his first assist of the year. “For Julian to not give up on that play is a great example of how he gets after it,” Balog said regarding Toenges’ service. “He worked very hard with his defensive work today, and this assist is going to give him a lot of confidence going into the game on Sunday.” Looking to counter quickly, the Trailblazers nearly equalized in the next minute of action. A defensive breakdown allowed Moises Medina access to the goal box with only an oncoming Lohmann to beat. The ‘Jacket keeper pushed forward however, stifling a shot that was headed towards the goal. “I just tried to make myself big, and predict where he was going to go,” said Lohmann on the most important of his six saves. “In that situation I just tried to let him shoot at me instead of reacting to him.” Lohmann had another key denial with 13 minutes until halftime, as he reacted to a point-blank shot from Ather Dawood and kept his team in the lead. MSUB nearly doubled its lead at the nine-minute mark in the first half, but JD Hauenstein was half a step late to a cross by Toenges as Bradley Trella grabbed it with a sliding stop. Posarelli had a decent look towards frame one minute later, but his low, line drive shot missed skimming the left post by inches. Guillaume Kremer turned in 90 quality minutes in the midfield in his first-ever start for the ‘Jackets on Friday.
The ‘Jackets carried the 1-0 edge into the halftime break, despite being out-shot by DSU 6-4 in the opening frame.
With 21 minutes to play in the match, Lambert had a crucial slide tackle in the box to prevent another one-on-one situation with Lohmann. The big defensive play came in the midst of a steady attack by the Trailblazers, but the ‘Jackets had few gaps along their defensive unit. Starting his first match of the season, central midfielder Guillaume Kremer was integral in keeping MSUB’s shape throughout the game as he played a full 90 minutes. Senior Garret Robinson and junior Eli Williams stood strong at the outside back positions for the entire match as well, while Colasanti played 78 minutes in the midfield and took four of MSUB’s five corner kicks. MSUB nearly scored again on a shot by Colasanti inside of 10 minutes to play, as his right-footed attempt from the left side of the box kicked off of the far goal post. In an evenly-played match overall, DSU managed 11 shots with six on frame, while MSUB had nine attempts and four on target. Hunter Ketterer, Medina, and Dawood were the three Trailblazers to take multiple shots in the game. Trella finished with three saves for the visitors.
“South Dakota Mines is well coached, and is a program that is getting better and better,” said Balog with regards to MSUB’s upcoming opponent on Sunday. “But the fact that we got a shutout and a win is going to take us into that game roaring. We want to play a brand of soccer that is attractive, and build out of the back.” TRIBUTE TO TREVOR: In a tribute to former Yellowjacket men’s soccer commitment Trevor Wildberger, who passed away last August after a battle with cancer, John and Tammy Wildberger attended the match and performed the ceremonial kickoff. “I know that this win for (Trevor’s parents) means an incredible amount, just like it does for us,” Balog said. THE BUZZ: Lohmann was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…it was Lohmann’s fifth career shutout…freshman Ignacio Crespo made his Yellowjacket debut with 12 minutes off of the bench…the goal was the fifth overall in Novis’ career, and his second game-winner…MSUB remains undefeated all-time against DSU, improving to 3-0. NEXT UP: MSUB takes on South Dakota School of Mines on Sunday in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Yellowjacket Field. Dixie State and the University of Mary, which defeated SDSMT 2-1 in double overtime earlier on Friday, will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday prior to the Yellowjackets’ affair with the Hardrockers.
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