FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, October 19, 2015 Palomino earns second GNAC Player of the Week honor after heroic performance
Ricardo Palomino nets his second GNAC Player of the Week honor of the year after scoring all three of MSUB’s secondhalf goals in an extraordinary come-from-behind 3-2 win over Concordia on Saturday. PORTLAND, Ore. – Earning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, Montana State University Billings men’s soccer star Ricardo Palomino was this week’s recipient announced by the conference office Monday. Palomino scored a hat trick in the second half against Concordia University on Saturday, lifting MSUB to an improbable, come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Cavaliers at Yellowjacket Field. “I think this award is very well deserved after Ricardo’s performances last week,” said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. “Especially during the second half against Concordia, he seemed to be playing at a different level. However, without the hard labor of his teammates, Ricardo would not have gotten this award. This award, although being an individual one, is also one for the team.”
The three goals upped Palomino’s season total to 16, and moved him into a tie for the second-most goals in all of the NCAA Division II. Palomino’s 34 points far and away lead the GNAC, and his goal total so far ranks fourth alltime in MSUB single-season history. Palomino’s first goal on Saturday came on an 18-yard free kick just outside of the goal box on the right side of the field. Bending a right-footed shot around the wall, Palomino’s strike glanced off of the right post and into the net. In the 77th minute, Palomino took a pass from Garret Robinson and streaked into the box, blasting home the game-tying goal past the CU goalkeeper. Less than four minutes later, Palomino scored his GNAC-leading fifth game-winning goal of the year. Carrying the ball inside the box, senior Sam Butterworth laid it off to Palomino who volleyed home a low strike from 15 yards out that set off an emotional celebration with 10 minutes remaining in the match. The heroic effort by the sophomore lifted MSUB to its third victory in-a-row, as the ‘Jackets currently sit in second place in the GNAC standings behind Seattle Pacific. It was his second hat trick of the season and fifth multi-goal performance. Palomino earned his first GNAC Player of the Week award when he scored six goals in two matches between Sept. 1113. MSUB kicks off a four-match road trip this week, taking on Simon Fraser University on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. Mountain time, and Western Washington University on Saturday at 8 p.m. Mountain time. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--