MSUB Men's Soccer Recap 10/10/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, October 10, 2015 ‘Jackets score early and often in 5-1 triumph over Saint Martin’s

The first of five goals on the game comes just 13 seconds into the match, as the MSUB men’s soccer team cruises to a 5-1 victory over Saint Martin’s at home on Saturday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – The first goal of the season for Thiago Novis just 13 seconds into the match followed by a top-class goal five minutes later from Great Northwest Athletic Conference scoring leader Ricardo Palomino set the tone in a strong 5-1 victory for the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team over conference opponent Saint Martin’s University Saturday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.

The Yellowjackets (5-3-3, 3-2-2 GNAC) totaled four goals in the first half by four different players, building an insurmountable advantage en route to the victory.

“We came out flying, and that was one of the things that we spoke about in the locker room,” commented MSUB head coach Alex Balog. “We needed a reaction after a not very good performance against SPU, and I think the guys gave us that exactly.”

Also scoring in the first half for MSUB were Jorge Paez and Rhys Lambert, and Palomino upped his conference-leading goals total to 13 with a penalty-kick finish in the 81st minute to seal the victory for MSUB.

“Today was a very important game for us,” Lambert said. “In recent weeks, we have had a bit of a dip in our form, especially in starting games. It was something we talked about all week and definitely talked about before the game.”

The Saints’ lone goal of the match came in the 75th minute, when a missed clearance on a corner kick by MSUB’s back line resulted in an own goal.

Scoring the team’s fastest goal of the season, Novis buried a shot from point-blank range on a cross from Julian Toenges just 13 seconds after kickoff.

“I think we started very well,” commented Riffeser. “We scored after a minute, scored another one, and played very well in the first half. Overall it is a good win and it is three points.”

With 30 minutes remaining in the first, Daragh Kavanagh let loose his first shot attempt of the game, rattling the crossbar from 30 yards out as he beat SMU’s keeper. Palomino fired a shot on target on the rebound, but SMU’s Nick Rosato came up with the save.

It took three tries in a row, but Jacob Richter and Paez finally connected for a goal with 12 minutes left in the first.

Richter started a promising chance for the ‘Jackets with 13 minutes left in the first half, slotting a nice through ball to Paez in the box. The sophomore took a solid shot on target from 15 yards out, but Rosato knocked it down for a save.

Less than a minute later, Richter replicated the feat with another through ball to Paez in the box, this time on a long ball from Tom Lohmann out of the goal box. Rosato again made a save, but the third time ended differently. MSUB’s next play on the offensive involved the same three players, as Lohmann played long to Richter, who found Paez from near the end line with a pass on the ground that the latter finished into an open net from six yards.

Jacob Richter (left) and Jorge Paez.

MSUB’s shutout chance was put into danger with five minutes before halftime, as SMU earned a penalty kick after a foul inside the goal box. Kaleb Strawn fired a low, curling shot towards the left post, but Lohmann dove and knocked the ball away.

The Yellowjackets countered immediately, winning a corner kick on the other end. Richter curled in a perfect cross, and Lambert was there with his head to nod it home and push the score line to 4-0 in the 40th minute.

“I’ve been lucky here in my career at MSUB to score a few headers,” Lambert commented on his second header goal of the season. “We have such great service from some of the guys on those free kicks and those corners. Today it was Jacob, he played a beautiful ball in, and I just happened to be in the right spot at the right time.”

Toenges and Palomino nearly connected midway through the second, but MSUB’s striker was whistled for offside before he beat the keeper and flicked the ball into the net with his right heel.

Despite giving up the own goal, the ‘Jackets responded with another of their own to push their lead back to four.

Palomino beat several defenders and the goalkeeper in the box, but was dragged down from behind resulting in a red card on the Saints. The foul inside the box gave Palomino the penalty try from 12 yards out, and he buried the shot to the left after approaching with a hesitation run-up.

Lohmann’s denial on the penalty kick was his lone save of the match, and Joe Scott made two saves as he played the final 18-plus minutes between the pipes for MSUB. The ‘Jackets came out firing, totaling 28 shots and 17 on target in the match. Comparatively, SMU had 15 shots and four on target. The Saints held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks, making the most on their last one to get onto the score sheet.

Palomino led all players with nine shots on the match, and Richter had his second and third assists of the season.

Riffeser recorded his first career point with the assist during his first start of the season.

With the loss, SMU fell to 2-8-1 on the season and 1-6 in GNAC play.

“We needed something that we could hold on to going into next week’s practice sessions and games,” Balog said.

“These are games we really need to get a result in, and the race right now in the GNAC is very tight. Everyone is within a couple of points, so getting a good win today was vital for us.”

THE BUZZ: The 28 shots and 17 on target were both season-highs for the Yellowjackets…Palomino tied his own mark for most shots in a single game this season…the multi-goal performance was the fifth of the season for Palomino…the five goals scored matched the season-high for MSUB, which had previously reached the mark on two occasions…through 11 matches MSUB has already surpassed last season’s goal total of 23 with 27 so far in 2015…Richter was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for his two assists.

AHEAD: MSUB remains at home to face GNAC opponents Northwest Nazarene University and Concordia University (Ore.). The ‘Jackets will face the Crusaders on Oct. 15 at 3:30 p.m., before challenging the Cavaliers two days later at 1 p.m. at Yellowjacket Field. The match against CU on Oct. 17 will be MSUB Kicks Cancer day, and both matches are part of a doubleheader with the Yellowjacket women’s soccer team.

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