MSUB Men's Soccer Recap 10/15/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, October 15, 2015 Perez, Lohmann lift ‘Jackets to 1-0 shutout of NNU Thursday

Fernando Perez scores a top-class goal in the 51st minute and Tom Lohmann makes four huge saves as MSUB’s men’s soccer team blanks Northwest Nazarene 1-0 on Thursday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Fernando Perez tucked a perfect finish into the upper-right corner of the goal in the 51st minute and Tom Lohmann laid out to deny a 20-yard free kick with 24 seconds left as the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team earned a hard-fought 1-0 shutout win over visiting Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s soccer match at Yellowjacket Field.

Clinging to a 1-0 lead, the clock came to a stop with 24 ticks remaining as the Crusaders earned a dangerous free kick from 20 yards out on the left-center part of the field. Fernando Alvarez stood over the ball as the ‘Jackets lined up a full wall of players 10 yards away, an assembly that ultimately wouldn’t matter.

Alvarez curled a perfect, right-footed shot past MSUB’s human barrier and towards the side netting attached to the right goal post. Blind to the ball until it cleared the final player on the wall, Lohmann reacted with a full-out dive, punching the on-target attempt clear and prompting a collective sigh of relief from the Yellowjackets.

“It was really close to my goal, and I assumed he was going to try to go to the post I was close to,” Lohmann said of the free kick. “I just tried to save it, and it worked.”

Lohmann’s denial helped Perez’s top-shelf finish hold as the game-winning goal, as MSUB won its second match in-a-row and improved to 6-3-3 on the year and 4-2-2 in GNAC play. The Crusaders lost their third straight match, falling to 8-4-1 on the season and 4-3-1 in conference games.

“In my three-year tenure as a head coach here I don’t think our team has executed a game plan as well as they have today,” commented MSUB head coach Alex Balog. “Let’s not forget that we played against an outstanding opponent today, and we cannot be prouder of this team. To beat a team as good as NNU on our home field is a fantastic achievement.”

The second goal of the season for Perez began with a patient play by Julian Toenges on the left side of the field. The GNAC’s leader in assists with eight on the year, Toenges navigated through a pair of defenders and into the box, before rolling a cross towards the right side where Perez was running over.

The senior tucked home a left-footed shot into the upper-right corner of the goal as Crusader goalkeeper Ryan Foo watched with no chance to attempt a save. “I was holding the middle and ran to the back post to create space for another center mid,” Perez said of the goal-scoring play. “Once I saw that ball laid across the center of goal, I came up to it and struck it with my left foot.”

The goal early in the second half sparked momentum for the ‘Jackets, who relied on an expert back line to complete their fourth shutout of the year. It took 90-minute efforts from all four upperclassman defenders, as Garret Robinson, Cameron Lee, Tom Saltwell and Sam Butterworth contained NNU the entire match.

“We played very well defensively as a unit,” Balog said. “Garret played an unbelievable game against maybe the best player in the conference, Castillo. Tom Saltwell and Cameron Lee in the back played a very tidy game, and won all of their headers and challenges.”

In an even match from start-to-finish, each team had 10 shots with MSUB placing five on target and NNU placing four. Foo made four saves in the net for the Crusaders, which held a minimal 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

Senior Cameron Lee.

NNU created a scoring chance within the first five minutes, as Julio Castillo had room inside the box but missed high with a shot.

Ricardo Palomino helped MSUB get its first clean look towards goal, as he was tripped up by NNU’s defense as he strode towards goal. Guido Riffeser stood over the free kick from 25 yards out, but his left-footed attempt curled high and out of bounds.

With time winding down in the first, NNU earned a dangerous free kick from 30 yards away on the right side. Jaime Verdin served in a cross, but a header shot by Jan Ilskens was pushed too high over the bar.

Thiago Novis gave the ‘Jackets a push two minutes into the second, curling a cross into the box from the right side. Foo came off his line however, grabbing the ball just before Toenges could reach it.

The breakthrough for MSUB came just five minutes later, as Toenges created space with the ball down the left wing.

After beating a pair of defenders, the junior played a cross into the box to Perez, who tucked his second goal of the season into the upper corner of the net past Foo. “A lot of credit goes to Julian, and with his speed we know that he can beat a lot of players,” Balog said. “He found himself doubled up, and he kept his cool. He looked up, saw Fernando making the run out of the midfield, and he just put the ball in the top corner with his left foot. I don’t think he could have put it in a better spot.”

The ‘Jackets nearly doubled their lead less than a minute later, as Toenges broke free and had a one-on-one with Foo. He kept his shot low and on target, but NNU’s last man came through with a huge save.

Lohmann had a save of his own on the other end, denying Dennis Vivar-Diaz from close range on the right side in the box.

Castillo had a strong attempt towards goal midway through the second, but his right-footed attempt from the left side curled around the far post.

Richter nearly doubled MSUB’s lead with 14 minutes remaining, but his shot was knocked away by Foo in another oneon-one opportunity for the ‘Jackets.

MSUB held on through the late-game drama, erupting into a celebration on the field after the hard-fought victory.

THE BUZZ: Palomino entered the day ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II in goals with 13 and No. 10 in total points with 28…Toenges entered the day ranked No. 16 in the NCAA in total assists with seven…NNU won the first meeting of the season by the same score in Nampa, Idaho on Oct. 3…Robinson was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.

NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets will host Concordia University (Ore.) on Saturday in the annual MSUB Kicks Cancer match.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., and will be followed by the MSUB women’s soccer team’s match against Saint Martin’s at 3:30 p.m.

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