FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, September 7, 2016 Men’s Soccer Preview: Third Annual Rimrock Classic hits Billings this weekend
MSUB’s men’s soccer team hosts the Third Annual Rimrock Classic, in memory of Trevor Wildberger, this weekend as three other NCAA Division II teams are headed to Billings for matches at Yellowjacket Field. BILLINGS, Mont. – Headlining a soccer-packed weekend at Montana State University Billings, the third-annual Rimrock Classic sponsored by TNT Automotive and Marine features four NCAA Division II men’s soccer teams including the Yellowjackets, and will run Friday and Sunday at Yellowjacket Field. This year’s Rimrock Classic, in memory of Trevor Wildberger, will pit the Yellowjackets against non-conference opponents Dixie State University on Friday and South Dakota School of Mines on Sunday. The University of Mary will also be in Billings to challenge the other two visiting teams over the weekend. 2016 Rimrock Classic Schedule Friday, Sept. 9 – 2 PM: South Dakota Mines vs. University of Mary. 4:30 PM: Dixie State University vs. MSU Billings. Sunday, Sept. 11 – 1 PM: University of Mary vs. Dixie State University. 3:30 PM: South Dakota Mines vs. MSU Billings. All four matches will feature live video and live statistics, available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here.
“We would like to get out of this weekend with a couple of wins,” said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. “We are playing two good teams, but we are a good team as well. One thing as a coaching staff that we will be looking for, is us to put the ball down, start playing again, and to create chances.” MSUB (0-2) opened its regular season last weekend in California, falling to No. 4 Cal Poly Pomona 1-0 on Thursday and losing 3-0 at Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. The Yellowjackets put together a solid match against the Broncos, creating numerous chances towards the end of the match, but came up short. A red card after the Coyotes’ first goal on Saturday forced MSUB to play with 10 men the rest of the match, and the team couldn’t recover from the deficit in the loss. “We went to California this past week and didn’t get the results we wanted, but that kind of fueled our fire to really take off,” said MSUB junior defender Aidan Raj. “We have a lot of work to do, and we are just determined to do well this season.” Raj is a newcomer to the defensive unit this season, who has seen time at outside back off the bench for the ‘Jackets. He and longtime teammate Alexis Chavez are teaming up again with MSUB, as the duo has been playing soccer together since their freshman year of high school. Another newcomer, Oliver Posarelli, is the lone field player to have remained on the pitch for all 180 minutes so far this season, starting both matches as a center back. The Italian freshman is also tied for the team lead in shots with three and shots on target with two, through his first two collegiate matches. In goal, senior keeper Tom Lohmann made seven saves in the two matches, and faced 21 total shots. In just his third season with the Yellowjackets, Lohmann has moved to No. 4 in program history with 135 saves. The German needs 62 more saves this year to break MSUB’s all-time record of 196 saves, held by Matt Mitchell (2007-2010). MSUB Career Saves Leaders Rk. Name Saves 1. Matt Mitchell 196 2. Eoin Hurley 177 3. Jess Feldtman 174 4. Tom Lohmann 135 5. Paul Corcoran 133
Seasons 2007-2010 2011-2013 2004-2005 2014-2016 1998-1999
Senior Tom Lohmann is No. 4 in MSUB history with 135 career saves.
Visiting Team Scouting Reports Dixie State University Trailblazers Conference: Pacific West Conference 2016 Record: 0-2 Head Coach: Tim Busen, 1st season 2015 Record: 10-2-4, 8-1-4 PacWest The Trailblazers are off to an 0-2 start under first-year head coach Tim Busen, after losing 3-0 against No. 6 Colorado School of Mines and 2-1 at Metro State University last week. DSU continues its road stretch to open the season, facing the ‘Jackets on Friday before challenging the University of Mary on Sunday in Billings. Sean Jenne, who did not compete for DSU last season, has the team’s only goal so far this year as he finished his only shot in the match against the Roadrunners. Senior Hunter Ketterer is the top returning defender for the team, after starting all 16 matches a season ago. On the offensive end, junior forward Frankie Mallek is the top returning scorer, as he found the net four times and added an assist in 16 matches in 2015. The team will need to replace players who scored 14 of its 20 goals last year, including top scorer Santiago Alejandro who found the net six times. In goal, the Trailblazers have a rock in returning starter Bradley Trella. The senior is coming off of a season in which he started all 16 matches, made 76 saves, and posted nine shutouts. The Series: MSUB has won both of the prior meetings between the teams, which were both played at neutral sites. Last Time Out: Garion Holian scored the only goal of the match, volleying home a shot from 25 yards out in the 86th minute to give the ‘Jackets a 1-0 victory in a match played in Phoenix, Ariz. South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers Conference: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 2016 Record: 0-1 Head Coach: Jordan Kadlec, 2nd season 2015 Record: 2-15-1, 2-9 RMAC Playing its first match of the season on Sunday, SDSMT came up just short in a strong comeback effort against Mary. Falling behind 3-0 by halftime, the Hardrockers received goals from Noah Mckenzie and Ian Debois to pull close in the 3-2 defeat. SDSMT will get a chance at redemption on Friday against the Marauders, before taking on the host Yellowjackets on Sunday in the tournament finale.
David Pineda is the top returner offensively, as he led the team with seven points on a pair of goals and three assists during 2015. Erik Fenske is the other returner to have scored multiple goals last year, and the defender started 15 matches as well. In goal, Jack Seifert returns after being the team’s starter as a true freshman in 2015. Seifert made 71 saves and recorded a pair of shutouts in more than 1,100 minutes played. The team also returns talented senior midfielder Andreas Skau, who got on the scoresheet against Mary with an assist. The Series: Having never lost to the Hardrockers, the ‘Jackets own a 5-0-1 mark dating back to the first meeting in 2012. Last Time Out: Ricardo Palomino scored four goals, and Julian Toenges had a goal and three assists as the ‘Jackets cruised to a 5-1 win at last year’s Rimrock Classic. Lohmann provided the assist on Toenges’s goal, playing a long ball out of his box that traveled nearly the full length of the field. University of Mary Marauders Conference: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference 2016 Record: 2-0 Head Coach: Dave Cook, 9th season 2015 Record: 3-13-2, 2-11-1 GNAC Off to a strong start in 2016, the Marauders defeated Colorado Christian 2-0 before hanging on against the Hardrockers last week. UM and SDSMT will square off again on Friday, before the Marauders take on Dixie State on Sunday at Yellowjacket Field. UM lost its top-two goal scorers from a season ago, as James Liddiard and Jonathan Sellars combined for 11 of the team’s 20 goals on the year. Jordan Pearce is one of the top returners, along with Andre Almqvist and Migel Bartolo who all scored two goals last season. Defensively, Sellars was also the anchor of the back line, as he started 18 matches at center back. UM is without a returning defender who played 10 matches or more, save for Almqvist. In goal, starter Ludvig Rhodin is back after making 54 saves and notching one shutout in 12 matches last season. The sophomore made four saves against CCU, and eight more against the Hardrockers to help his team to a pair of early wins. Aaron Brennan, who ranked second on the team with five assists last year, had a goal and an assist against SDSMT, while Pearce scored the other two in the 3-2 win. The Series: The one-sided series leans in favor of MSUB, as the ‘Jackets are 26-7-2 all-time against the Marauders. MSUB is 13-3-1 at home against Mary. Last Time Out: Despite trailing 3-1 late in the match, UM scored twice as the teams played to a 3-3, double-overtime draw on the final day of the 2015 season at Yellowjacket Field. Thiago Novis had a pair of goals and Toenges had two assists for the ‘Jackets.
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