MSUB Men's Soccer Preview 9/10/2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, September 10, 2015 2nd annual Rimrock Classic sponsored by TNT Automotive on tap for Yellowjackets

The second-annual Rimrock Classic, sponsored by TNT Automotive and Marine, will kick off on Friday with three teams traveling to Yellowjacket Field in Billings for the two-day event.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Returning to Yellowjacket Field this weekend for its 2015 regular season home debut, the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team will host the second annual Rimrock Classic sponsored by TNT Automotive and Marine with matches running Friday and Sunday.

The Yellowjackets (0-1-1) will face Carroll College on Friday at 4:30 p.m., and South Dakota School of Mines on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The University of Mary will also participate in the four-team affair, taking on SDSMT on Thursday at 2 p.m. and Carroll on Sunday at 1 p.m.

All matches will feature live video and live statistics, available online via MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal. An alltournament team will be selected following the conclusion of the event.

“We are very excited that these teams agreed to come to Billings this coming weekend, and it is going to be very good regional competition,” said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. “It is a great opportunity for our community to come out to our facility and watch some high level soccer.”

Opening its 2015 campaign last week, MSUB started off with a 1-1 double overtime draw against Cal State San Marcos, before falling to Metro State University Denver 4-1. Both matches were hosted by Dixie State University, played on a neutral site in St. George, Utah.

MSUB got ahead in each match, as the first goal of the season from Niklas Schregel put the ‘Jackets in front 1-0 in the 28th minute against the Cougars. After a response from CSUSM in the 69th minute, neither team found the net again and the game ended in a draw.

Last Sunday, it was David Loeung who gave MSUB an early lead, tucking home a penalty kick in just the sixth minute of the match against the Roadrunners. Metro State evened the score midway through the first, and pulled away late in the second half with a pair of goals in the final five minutes to seal the win.

The ‘Jackets have four players who have played every minute so far through the first two games, with goalkeeper Tom Lohmann manning the pipes and making 10 big saves in the matches.

“It is definitely going to be a competitive game against Carroll, and if we can fix a couple of little details we will have a positive result,” said Lohmann. “South Dakota Mines is a team we played two times last year and won both, and I am really looking forward to playing at home this week.”

Defenders Tom Saltwell, Sam Butterworth, and Garret Robinson have each also played every minute. Robinson, a senior this season, returns to the pitch after missing the 2014 season with an injury.

“The team is excited to play Carroll and South Dakota Mines, and we have played them both in the past couple of years,” Robinson said looking ahead to this weekend. “They are two good opponents, and I think it will really help us get going as we head into our GNAC season.”

Ricardo Palomino, who scored five goals during MSUB’s preseason exhibition schedule, was responsible for the assist on Schregel’s goal and he has started both matches thus far. The sophomore from Puebla, Mexico leads the team with five shots, and Butterworth is close behind with four.

Senior Garret Robinson.

Junior captain Rhys Lambert has also contributed quality time in MSUB’s midfield, starting both matches and logging a pair of shots in 191 minutes.

Though the teams will not face each other this weekend, the Yellowjackets will play their first conference game of the season next week on the road against the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. “With University of Mary being our first GNAC game after this weekend, it is important that we finish our nonconference schedule on a positive note,” said Balog. “The goal will be to leave everything on the field like we always do, and I know that the guys will be up for that.”

Friday, September 11 – Carroll College Saints – 4:30 p.m.

2015 Record: 2-1 Head Coach: Doug Mello, 2nd season 2014 Record: 6-11-1, 0-6 Cascade Conference

After the inaugural season for the men’s soccer program in 2014, the Saints return to the pitch this year and have started off with a 2-1 record. The Saints lost to The Master’s College 2-1 on Aug. 20, before back-to-back wins against Westminster College (1-0) and the University of Lethbridge (4-1).

So far this season, freshman forward Jose Porras has stolen the show, scoring four goals and adding an assist for nine points in his first three collegiate games. Porras has placed eight of his 18 shots taken on target, and his second of three goals against Lethbridge counted as a game-winner.

Jake Gilbertson and Chris Brayton have each also scored for Carroll, and four different players have contributed assists on the young season.

In goal, senior Conor Smith has played every minute, making eight saves and holding a goals-against average of 1.00 in his first three matches.

Head coach Doug Mello is in his second season in charge, and he took over the program having coached a national collegiate record 1,154 men’s and women’s soccer matches over 37 years.

The Series: Friday’s match will be the first regular season meeting between MSUB and Carroll. The teams played to a 1-1 draw last season in a preseason exhibition match at Yellowjacket Field.

Sunday, September 13 – South Dakota Mines Hardrockers – 3:30 p.m.

2015 Record: 0-2 Head Coach: Jordan Kadlec, 1st season 2014 Record: 1-17, 0-14 GNAC The Hardrockers are yet to score this season, dropping their first two matches each by the score of 3-0. SDSMT took on Illinois-Springfield on Sept. 4 and Maryville on Sept. 6, and the ‘Rockers were out-shot in the two games 27-22.

Senior Michael McGraw is one of the top returners for the Hardrockers, along with senior midfielder Andreas Skau. Both players were honorable mention all-GNAC selections a season ago.

Jack Seifert has played every minute in goal so far, making 12 saves on the season for SDSMT. Head coach Jordan Kadlec is in his first season at the helm of the program, leading the Hardrockers in their transition from competing in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference this season.

The Series: The Yellowjackets have never lost to their former conference foe, holding a 4-0-1 alltime record against SDSMT. MSUB is 3-0 at home against the Hardrockers and 1-0-1 in road games.

Last Time Out: MSUB won both matches last season, with a 2-0 result at home and a 3-2 victory on the road. Loeung, Jorge Paez, and Lambert each scored a goal last season in MSUB’s victories over SDSMT. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--