FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, September 22, 2016 MSUB men win GNAC opener 3-0 over NNU, post 5th straight shutout
Julian Toenges, Julien Dragomir, and JD Hauenstein each score goals, and MSUB’s shutout streak reaches five games as the ‘Jackets blank NNU 3-0 on the road in their 2016 GNAC opener. NAMPA, Idaho – A goal each from three different players, and the fifth straight clean sheet for the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team led the Yellowjackets to a 3-0 win at Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday in the team’s 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener at the NNU Soccer Field. Julian Toenges scored for the second straight game, Julien Dragomir added his second goal of the season, and JD Hauenstein contributed his team-best fourth of the year as the Yellowjacket offense moved into a tie for most goals in the GNAC this season with 16. “We executed our tactical plan very well, and we were able to exploit their weaknesses,” said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. “We created a lot of very good chances in the first half, and the guys came out roaring in the second half. Overall this was a very good team performance.”
MSUB improved to 5-2 on the season with the victory, and is now 1-0 in conference play. The Crusaders fell to 3-3-1 with the loss, and started their conference schedule with a mark of 0-1. The Yellowjackets won big despite being out-shot in the game 20-15, but MSUB junior goalkeeper Joe Scott made six big saves to earn his third straight shutout. “Not only did Joe have several very good saves but he managed the game very well,” Balog said. The junior made a diving save to push a deflected shot over the crossbar in the first half, and came off of his line to shut down a oneon-one situation in the second half. MSUB’s first goal came in the 33rd minute, when Guillaume Kremer found Toenges to make the score 1-0. The ‘Jackets forced a turnover 40 yards from NNU’s goal, and Kremer sent a through ball to Toenges inside the box. Beating the keeper on the near post, the senior scored his second goal of the season. The ‘Jackets headed into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead in hand, even after being out-shot 11-7 in the opening 45 minutes.
Freshman JD Hauenstein has scored in four straight games for the Yellowjackets.
The next two goals for MSUB came within six minutes of one another, as the ‘Jackets quickly put the game out of reach in the second half. With just over 16 minutes gone, Flavio Colasanti beat a defender in the box, and played the ball across to Dragomir for a tap in.
In the 68th minute, Dragomir carried the ball down the left side, and played a cross similar to Colasanti’s towards an open space in the box. Hauenstein maneuvered his way clear of his defender, and beat NNU’s keeper to score in his fourth straight game. “We like how dynamic of a player JD is, and with his speed and technical ability we know he can beat players,” Balog said. “For a freshman to have such an impact in his first year, is pretty incredible. We had high expectations for him but he is outperforming those expectations we had.” Keon Jones led NNU with seven shots in the match, placing two of them on target. Fernando Alvarez also had two shots on frame for the Crusaders, while goalkeeper Ryan Foo made six saves on MSUB’s nine shots on frame. THE BUZZ: Kremer was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Hauenstein has scored in each of his last four games for the ‘Jackets…Dragomir recorded his second game this season with a goal and an assist…the win was MSUB’s first in Nampa since a 4-3, overtime victory on Oct. 29, 2011. NEXT UP: MSUB heads to Portland, Ore., on Saturday to challenge Concordia University in a night game at Porter Park. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Mountain time, with live video and statistics available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--