FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, October 5, 2016 Preview: MSUB men’s soccer at home to face No. 2 Simon Fraser on Saturday
In the biggest match of the season to this point, MSUB’s men’s soccer team hosts GNAC-leading and nationally-ranked No. 2 Simon Fraser in a single game at Yellowjacket Field on Saturday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Getting set for its biggest game of the season to date, the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team will host Great Northwest Athletic Conference leader Simon Fraser University on Saturday at Yellowjacket Field. Playing just one conference game this week, the Yellowjackets’ game against the Clan will kick off at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. MSUB students, who receive free admission to all Yellowjacket games, are encouraged to catch the Yellowjacket bus outside of Rimrock Hall at 2:30 p.m. for free transportation to the game. The shuttle will run to the field prior to kickoff, and will make a return trip to the residence halls following the match. Free chili from Wendy’s will be served at the main entrance for all fans on Saturday, available while supplies last.
NEWS TALK 730 HOSTS THE ‘JACKETS: Promoting Saturday’s match live on local radio this week, will be a trio of Yellowjacket players. Junior Niklas Schregel, sophomore captain Guillaume Kremer, and freshman JD Hauenstein will join Scott Fredricks of NewsTalk Radio 730 KYYA on Thursday morning at 7:35 a.m. to discuss the Yellowjackets’ season and upcoming game. Tune into Thursday morning’s show live on AM radio 730 locally in Billings. WHAT’S AT STAKE: In a match that pits the only two remaining undefeated GNAC teams together, Saturday’s contest will feature the first-place and second-place teams in the conference standings. SFU is a perfect 3-0-0 in league play and is on the top of the table with nine points. The ‘Jackets are four points behind, holding a record of 1-0-3 for five points. MSUB will be looking to gain ground on three teams who are tied for third place in the league standings with four points. LIVE COVERAGE: Saturday’s match will feature live video and live statistics, available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. LAST WEEK: The ‘Jackets pushed their double-overtime draw streak to three games, tying Seattle Pacific 1-1 on the road before a 2-2 stalemate at Saint Martin’s. The two points helped MSUB remain unbeaten in its last eight games overall, after starting the season 0-2. DRAGOMIR SCORING AT WILL: Scoring in each of MSUB’s last four games, senior striker Julien Dragomir has been a key force in helping the team to three consecutive draws. His secondhalf goal against the Falcons helped MSUB snap a seven-game losing streak, and he turned in his team-leading fifth of the year two days later at Saint Martin’s. Dragomir has also recorded four assists, leading MSUB and ranking tied for second in the GNAC with 14 points. His goals total is the fourth-best mark in the league, and his assists total is tied for third best. Dragomir is the second Yellowjacket this season to score in four straight games, as freshman JD Hauenstein achieved the feat earlier in the year. PALOMINO REACHES 20 CAREER GOALS: Scoring MSUB’s first goal against the Saints, junior forward Ricardo Palomino scored the 20th of his career to move him into a tie for fourth place among MSUB’s career leaders. The junior’s four goals on the year are tied for fifth-most in the league, and his nine points are tied for ninth-most. MSUB Career Goals Leaders Rk. Name Goals 1. Sam Charles 69 2. Dave Austin 27 3. Thomas Pertuit 23 4. Chris Andre 20 Ricardo Palomino 20 6. Mark Cipolla 19 Garion Holian 19
Years 2006-09 1997-2001 2001-04 2007-2010 2015-16 2001-02 2008-2011
Junior Ricardo Palomino is one of five players in MSUB history with 20 career goals.
FLAVIO FINDING FORWARDS: With four assists in his last five games, junior midfielder Flavio Colasanti has continued to directly impact the team’s offensive output. Though he did not get on the scoresheet against the Falcons, Colasanti took a team-high eight of MSUB’s 26 shots, and placed three on target. The Italian has started all 10 matches this season, and after just one shot on target in his first six games, he has had eight in his last four games. SCHREGEL NETS FIRST POINT SINCE RETURN: After missing the second half of last year with a knee injury, junior Niklas Schregel has returned strongly and has started seven games this year. The German earned his first point of the season on Saturday with his third-career assist. “It’s an awesome feeling being back, and it was some of the hardest months of my life,” Schregel commented on recovering from knee surgery. “It has been tough going to overtime in three straight games, but it is getting better and it’s good that I can play without any pain.”
Junior Flavio Colasanti has four assists in his last five matches.
RAJ, CHAVEZ RE-CONNECT WITH FIRST TANDEM START: Former high-school teammates Alexis Chavez and Aidan Raj made their first-ever tandem start last Saturday, each starting at outside back for the ‘Jackets. Chavez has played in 9 of 10 games overall on the defensive unit, and played a season-high 95 minutes in the draw against the Saints. Raj played upwards of 100 minutes in both matches last week, staying on the field for the full 110 against SMU.
HEPBURN PLAYS FIRST COMPLETE GAME: Earning his third start of the year on Saturday, sophomore Adam Hepburn played the full 110 minutes at holding midfielder for his first career complete game for the ‘Jackets. Hepburn has played in all 10 matches so far this year, after playing in nine as a true freshman in 2015. JOE IN GOAL: Junior goalkeeper Joe Scott has played every minute the last four matches, and made nine saves in 220 minutes on the road last week. Facing double-digit shot totals in each of his last four games, Scott has made 17 saves in that time span and has 23 total this year. The junior holds a goals-against average of 0.91, and a save percentage of 79.3. “The back line has been able to cope well together, and it helps that we are all so close together off the field,” Scott commented on working with his defensive unit. “We will have the whole week to get some fitness in and work on our tactics, and I think we are going to be ready for Simon Fraser.” ‘JACKETS PACK A PUNCH: Continuing to lead the GNAC and NCAA D2 west region in goals, MSUB has found the net 22 times this season on a league-best 174 shots. The Yellowjackets scored just once against SPU despite tying their season high with 26 shots and putting 11 of those on frame last Thursday. The team is averaging 20 shots over its last four matches, and is putting 10.5 of those on frame. Defensively, MSUB ranks third in the league with 10 goals allowed and an average of 1.00 per game. The ‘Jackets continue to lead the GNAC with five shutouts this season. MSUB continues to be ranked No. 7 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America West Region top-10.
Saturday, October 8 – No. 2 Simon Fraser University Clan – 3 PM Yellowjacket Field | Billings, MT 2016 Record: 8-0, 3-0 GNAC Head Coach: Clint Schneider, 2nd season 2015 Record: 10-3-4, 9-2-3 GNAC (2nd) Off to a perfect start this year under second-year head coach Clint Schneider, the Clan moved up to No. 2 in the latest NSCAA top-25 poll. SFU defeated Seattle Pacific 3-1 and Saint Martin’s 2-1 to start its league season, before a convincing 5-1 takedown of Concordia University in its most recent match at home last week. The Clan will stop in Nampa, Idaho on Thursday for a match at Northwest Nazarene University before continuing to Billings for Saturday’s encounter with the ‘Jackets. Leading the team and tied for first in the GNAC with seven goals is sophomore Mamadi Camara, who has placed 64.7 percent of his shots on target this season. He has also added four assists, and leads the conference in total points with 18. Close behind Camara is junior midfielder Adam Jones, who has scored four goals and posted three assists for 11 points. Seasoned veteran Ryan Dhillon has started all eight matches, and leads the team with five assists while also contributing a goal. SFU’s 21 goals this year rank second only to MSUB’s 22, and defensively the team has been stellar while allowing just five goals. Piloting the defensive unit is 2013 GNAC Freshman of the Year Magnus Kristensen, who has returned to the lineup as a junior and started all eight matches. Junior Pascal Schmidt has also been a key factor on the back line, as he has started all eight games and eaten up 720 minutes with a goal as well. Senior goalkeeper Brandon Watson, a two-time second-team all-GNAC pick, has played every minute of the year. He has made 18 saves while facing just 6.25 shots per game, resulting in a goals-against average of 0.62. He has also recorded three shutouts, and holds a save percentage of 78.3. The Series: MSUB has never defeated SFU, with the clan holding a 16-0-3 all-time record over the ‘Jackets. MSUB is 0-5-2 at home against the Clan. Last Time Out: It took a penalty-kick goal from SFU’s Jones to preserve the team’s unbeaten streak against MSUB, as the teams fought to a 1-1, double-overtime draw at Yellowjacket Field last September. Rhys Lambert had the goal in the match for the ‘Jackets, heading home a set piece cross from Sam Butterworth. SFU edged MSUB in Burnaby, B.C. later that season, winning narrowly 1-0 at Terry Fox Field.
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