MSUB Men's Soccer Recap 10/31/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, October 31, 2015 Yellowjacket men fall to No. 9 Falcons 1-0 Saturday

MSUB’s men’s soccer team falls to the No. 9 team in the NSCAA, losing 1-0 at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

SEATTLE – The top defense in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference got just what it needed in an early goal by Ian Adams, and No. 9 Seattle Pacific handed the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team a 1-0 defeat Saturday evening at Interbay Stadium.

The loss dropped MSUB to 8-6-3 on the season and 6-5-2 in conference play. The Falcons clinched at least a share of the GNAC title, improving to 13-1-3 overall and 9-1-3 in GNAC games. SPU has surrendered just eight goals all season long, and the shutout was its GNAC-best ninth of the season.

“I am very proud of the guys,” MSUB head coach Alex Balog said. “We lost, but we left the field with a very different feeling than we had Thursday. We played against a very good SPU team that will win the GNAC and go to the national tournament deservedly. We have one week of competition left and we will try to use that time to keep progressing and get better.”

The Yellowjackets managed seven shots in the game, but placed just two on target. SPU had seven different players attempt shots, with four – including two by Gabe Kellum – landing on target. Tom Lohmann made three saves in the net for the ‘Jackets, while SPU’s Cody Lang stopped both of MSUB’s attempts on frame.

The Falcons capitalized early, as Adams netted his fifth goal of the season in the 10th minute of the match. Receiving a combination pass from Kellum and Danny Olivas, Adams made it 1-0 with a successful shot from eight yards out on the right side.

MSUB had a chance directly off the kickoff, but a shot by Thiago Novis nine second in was saved by Lang.

The first shot of the game for GNAC scoring leader Ricardo Palomino came in the 31st minute, but the sophomore missed wide right of the target. Julian Toenges had a decent look towards goal four minutes later, but his shot was blocked by SPU’s defense.

Coming out of the halftime break, Sam Butterworth had his first shot of the match as he missed wide in the 53rd minute.

The Falcon defense kept MSUB quiet into the late minutes of the match, with a shot by Palomino in the 73rd minute breaking a 20-minute dry spell without a shot.

With less than 10 minutes to play, MSUB upped its pressure in an attempt to find an equalizer. Palomino missed with a shot in the 83rd minute, leading to a corner kick for the ‘Jackets. Novis had one final attempt for MSUB in the 86th minute, but Lang was there to knock his shot away and preserve the shutout.

Fernando Perez turned in a 90-minute effort in MSUB’s midfield, and Novis played the entire match as well. Defensively, Sam Butterworth and Cameron Lee also played 90 minutes as the ‘Jackets held tough and gave themselves a chance to equalize.

Lohmann earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors, for making three big saves and helping keep the ‘Jackets in the match.

MSUB now sits in a tie for fifth place in the GNAC standings with 20 points, even with Concordia University.

NEXT UP: MSUB’s final match of the season is scheduled for Nov. 7, as the Yellowjackets will host the University of Mary with a 3 p.m. kickoff. The Yellowjackets’ graduating seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.

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