FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, October 11, 2016 ‘Jacket men continue home stand, MSUB Kicks Cancer set for Saturday
The Yellowjackets’ annual MSUB Kicks Cancer match is set for Saturday against NNU, and the men’s soccer team also hosts Western Washington this week as GNAC play reaches the midway point. BILLINGS, Mont. – Thursday afternoon’s men’s soccer match against Western Washington University will mark the midway point of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference season for Montana State University Billings, as the Yellowjackets host a pair of conference games this week at Yellowjacket Field. MSUB (5-3-3, 1-1-3 GNAC) is currently in fourth place in the GNAC standings with six points, and will have a chance to gain ground against a pair of close opponents with this week’s matches. The Vikings (4-3-3, 1-2-2 GNAC) are one point behind MSUB, while Northwest Nazarene University (5-3-3, 2-1-2 GNAC), which comes to town on Saturday, is two points ahead of the ‘Jackets. The ‘Jackets are also within striking distance of Seattle Pacific University (3-3-5, 1-1-4 GNAC), which is in third place with seven points. GNAC-leading Simon Fraser University remained unbeaten on the year, drawing NNU 2-2 last Thursday before dealing MSUB a tough 1-0 loss on Saturday to improve to 9-0-1 overall and 4-0-1 in league play.
Thursday’s match against the Vikings will kick off at 3:30 p.m., as will Saturday’s contest against the Crusaders. Both matches will be the second game in a doubleheader with the Yellowjacket women’s soccer team, and all games will feature live video and live statistics through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. “It is going to be a very interesting game, and a battle,” Balog commented on the upcoming game against WWU. “It is always a very even game, but I know they had a decent start to the season and they’re going to try to come here to win the game. It’s going to be a very competitive GNAC game as it always is, but also a game that we need to use to get back to winning ways.” Saturday’s game will serve as the team’s annual MSUB Kicks Cancer ceremony, as both men’s and women’s teams will warm up wearing pink to show support for the fight against cancer. MSUB Team IMPACT member Sebastien Easton will perform the ceremonial kickoff prior to the Yellowjackets’ match against NNU. “Saturday is going to be a special day for all of us, and will be another opportunity for us to honor Trevor Wildberger and Sebastien Easton,” said Balog. “At the same time it is going to be a game that is very important for us.” OFFENSE LOOKING FOR KICK START: In its loss to SFU last Saturday, not only did MSUB snap an eight-game unbeaten streak, but the stretch of success included at least one goal in each of those games dating back to Sept. 9. The ‘Jackets had not been shut out since a 30 loss on Sept. 3 at Cal State San Bernardino, as MSUB couldn’t find the net despite out-shooting SFU 16-4.
Team IMPACT member Sebastien Easton jogs along the sideline with Flavio Colasanti at a home game at Yellowjacket Field.
Overall the ‘Jackets are averaging two goals per game, as the team’s 22 total goals in 11 matches is tied for second-most in the GNAC. OLI KEEPS HIS FOOTING ON BACK LINE: Starting every game this season at center back, Oliver Posarelli has been a central part of the Yellowjackets’ lineup. A minor injury in the final minutes against SFU prevented his complete game streak from reaching four, as he had played 110 minutes in each of the team’s previous three games before going for 87 against the Clan. FLAVIO KEEPS SHOOTING: Continuing his recent trend of looking for goal, junior midfielder Flavio Colasanti again led the ‘Jackets with five shots in their most recent game. Colasanti is averaging 4.4 shots over his last five games after averaging just 1.3 shots in his first six games of the year. “Flavio and I are really close to each other, and for me it’s like having a brother on the team,” Posarelli commented on his fellow Italian teammate. “He is a really good player and is helping us in the midfield, and he is really close to scoring so I hope he scores in our next game.”
G-ROB RETURNING: After missing the last two weeks with an injury, senior defender Garret Robinson is set to return to the lineup this week. Robinson started the first eight matches of the year as an outside back, and has also added one assist in 609 minutes. “It will be good to be back, and I definitely think we can take some confidence from the Simon Fraser game although it was a frustrating loss,” Robinson said. “We are expecting a hard-fought game, and it is always very physical against Western Washington.” BREAM OFF THE BENCH: Freshman Ian Bream has been a key role player for the ‘Jackets this season, contributing quality minutes in nine matches as a substitute. Bream scored his first career goal against the University of Mary on Sept. 19, and played a career high 51 minutes in the team’s road match at Saint Martin’s on Oct. 1. REGIONAL RANKINGS: In the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America West Region Rankings, MSUB fell from No. 7 to No. 9 after the loss to top-ranked SFU. Thursday, October 13 – Western Washington University Vikings – 3:30 PM Yellowjacket Field | Billings, MT 2016 Record: 4-3-3, 1-2-2 GNAC Head Coach: Greg Brisbon, 4th season 2015 Record: 5-10-3, 3-9-2 GNAC (7th) Coming off of a loss in its last game, Western Washington will enter Billings this week just one point behind the ‘Jackets in the league standings. The Vikings fell to Northwest Nazarene 1-0 last Saturday on the road, after playing Seattle Pacific to a 1-1, doubleovertime draw in Seattle last Thursday. Anthony Dean leads the team with four goals scored this year, and has added two assists for 10 total points. Veteran Luke Olney and Drew Barker have each scored twice for the Vikings, who have out-scored their opposition 14-10 through 10 matches. WWU has also relied on freshman Christian Rotter, who is the only field player to start all 10 matches. He has scored one goal and added an assist, while placing 42.9 percent of shots on target in 746 minutes. Junior transfer Colton Ronk has been one of the team’s top defensive players, as has fellow junior Stephen Jinneman. Nick Morgan is another everyday starter on the back line, which is averaging one goal allowed per game. Between the posts, junior Tyler Visten has started all 10 games and holds a goals-against average of 0.93. He has made 33 saves and owns three shutouts in 972 total minutes played. The Series: MSUB is 6-17-1 all-time against WWU, including a mark of 3-5-1 in home matches. The Yellowjackets have won three of the last four meetings between the teams dating back to September of 2014. Last Time Out: The ‘Jackets swept the season series last year, both times winning by the score of 1-0. Thiago Novis scored the game-winning goal on a free kick in Bellingham, Wash., last October, and Ricardo Palomino made the difference in the home victory last September.
Saturday, October 15 – Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders – 3:30 PM Yellowjacket Field | Billings, MT | MSUB Kicks Cancer Day 2016 Record: 5-3-3, 2-1-2 GNAC Head Coach: Joel DeLass, 1st season 2015 Record: 12-6-1, 8-5-1 GNAC (3rd) Since losing to MSUB 3-0 at home on Sept. 22, the Crusaders have gone unbeaten in four conference matches with two wins and two draws. Most recently, NNU defeated Western Washington 1-0 last Saturday, after playing No. 2 Simon Fraser to a 2-2, doubleovertime draw in Nampa, Idaho last Thursday. The Crusaders earned the GNAC Team of the Week award for their performance last week, and currently sit two points ahead of MSUB in the league standings in second place. Tied with MSUB for second-most goals in the conference with 22, NNU has six scorers who have found the net multiple times this season. Leading the pack is Logan Wood, whose four goals and two assists give him a team-high 10 points. Alex Mitrovic, Ebu Camara, and Rafael Junqueira have each scored three times this season, and Michael Mollay and Rene Deuvel have scored two goals apiece. Ryan Foo was selected as the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week, after picking up his second shutout of the season in the win over the Vikings. The senior goalkeeper has played every minute of the year, making a GNAC-high 71 saves and holding a goals-against average of 1.60. The Series: MSUB improved to 10-12-2 all-time against NNU with the win earlier this year, and the ‘Jackets are 2-4-2 at home against the Crusaders. Last Time Out: The ‘Jackets opened conference play with a statement, as Julian Toenges, Julien Dragomir and JD Hauenstein each found the net in the resounding 3-0 win on the road.