Balog adds 3 to MSUB men’s soccer team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, February 13, 2017 Balog adds 3 to MSUB men’s soccer team

Shantik Bedrosian, Kyle Kellogg, and Dana Kowachek each sign letters of intent to join MSUB’s men’s soccer team during the February signing period.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Three more players have signed letters of intent to join the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team and will compete for the Yellowjackets in the fall 2017 season.

Head coach Alex Balog welcomed Shantik Bedrosian, Kyle Kellogg, and Dana Kowachek to MSUB’s program in an announcement made Monday.

Bedrosian is from Doetinchem, Netherlands, Kellogg is a native of Roseville, Calif., and Kowachek is from Missoula, Mont., where he graduated from Big Sky High School.

Bedrosian comes to MSUB as an attacking player who possesses advanced technical ability and vision. “Shant comes from a strong soccer background, and we will be looking to him to create chances and to finish them as well,” Balog

commented on adding another weapon to an offense that scored the second-most goals (40) in school history during 2016. “Shant’s personality is also a very good fit, and I am convinced that he will gel well with our guys. I’m very proud we were able to land a player of Shant’s caliber, and I look forward to having him here at MSUB.” “I feel like MSUB will be a great experience for me,” said Bedrosian, who will enter the program as a true freshman. “I have had a lot of contact with Coach Alex, and he was really confident that I would be a great fit here. MSUB looks to have a warm and friendly team and university, and I am looking forward to having a great time there.”

Kellogg will also enter MSUB’s program as a freshman, after four years as a goalkeeper at Roseville High School. He was named team captain in 2016 under head coach Pablo Gutierrez, and recorded seven shutouts for the Tigers. Kellogg also competed in volleyball for one season. “I chose MSUB to continue Shantik Bedrosian. playing soccer at the collegiate level, and to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, Trevor Wildberger,” Kellogg said.

“Kyle made a great impression on us during his visit, and we liked his composure and how well he fit into our team,” said Balog. “He will be able to learn from Tom (Lohmann) and Joe (Scott), and after they’ve graduated it’ll be up to him to show us he can fill their shoes. We expect him to compete and work as hard as he can right off the bat, and push his fellow goalkeepers.”

After spending one season at fellow NCAA DII school Kyle Kellogg.

Fort Lewis College, Kowachek will return to his home state to join the Yellowjackets. In 19 games played during the 2016 season, Kowacheck scored a pair of goals and added three assists in 1,088 total minutes on the pitch. He earned 15 starts as a true freshman, and placed 12 of his 27 shots on target for a percentage of 44.4. Kowachek was also one of the Skyhawks’ primary set piece takers, handling 17 corner kicks.

As a forward during his time at Big Sky HS, Kowachek earned four varsity letters and was a two-time all-state selection. “Dana is a Montana player who has played consistently at a high NCAA DII level at Fort Lewis College already,” Balog said. “We are looking at Dana to come in and bring a competitive edge and experience to our program. I am glad we were able to bring back one of Montana’s most talented players, and I’m sure Dana’s creativity and speed will help us.”

Dana Kowachek.

The latest trio of signees will join Sam Phillips (Bozeman, Mont.) and Christian Thode (Stanwood, Wash.) as Balog’s 2017 class of players has grown to five.

MSUB finished the 2016 season in fourth place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, at 9-6-3 overall and 5-4-3 in league play.

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