FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, September 12, 2016 MSUB’s Lohmann, DSU’s Porta highlight Rimrock Classic all-tourney team as MVPs
MSUB goalkeeper Tom Lohmann earns his second career defensive most valuable player honor, while Dixie State forward Jandir Porta takes home offensive MVP honors after the third-annual Rimrock Classic BILLINGS, Mont. – For the second time in his career, Montana State University Billings men’s soccer goalkeeper Tom Lohmann has been selected as the Defensive Most Valuable Player for the Rimrock Classic sponsored by TNT Automotive and Marine. Lohmann, along with Offensive Most Valuable Player Jandir Porta of Dixie State University, headlined the all-tournament team released Monday after the four-team affair took place Sept. 9-11 at Yellowjacket Field. “Tom stayed very focused throughout both games of the Rimrock Classic,” said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. “He kept us in the Dixie State game with several saves and showed great leadership and game-management skills against SDSMT. With two clean sheets, he is thoroughly deserving of the defensive MVP award.”
Lohmann earned his fifth and sixth career shutouts in goal, while making 10 big saves over the weekend in MSUB’s two wins. Against Dixie State on Friday, Lohmann came up with six denials to help the ‘Jackets to a 1-0 result in their first win of the season. Lohmann followed that up with a four-save performance against the Hardrockers, and he faced 17 shots total in the two matches. Many of Lohmann’s saves came on point-blank shots from close range, and on tough shots off of set pieces inside a crowded goal box. The senior keeper is fourth in MSUB history with 145 career saves, and he moved into sole possession of second place in career shutouts with six in just his third season with the team. Helping Dixie State to a 5-0 shutout over South Dakota Mines, Porta had two stellar goals for the Trailblazers on Sunday. Capping off the scoring in the 67th minute, the freshman finished a half-volley bicycle kick with his back to the goal and into the lower-right corner of the net against SDSMT. Also representing the Trailblazers on the all-tournament team were midfielder Gabby Medinas, who had an assist, and defender Bryan Baugh, who contributed to the team’s shutout on Sunday. For the second year in-a-row, midfielder Aaron Brennan of the University of Mary garnered all-tournament honors. Marc Hernandez, who scored the team’s game-winning goal in its 2-1 overtime win over SDSMT on Friday, was also named to the all-tournament team. Andreas Skau was the lone representative on the all-tournament team for South Dakota Mines, which conceded seven goals and scored one in its two losses. Lohmann is the only player to earn all-tournament honors three times, and was the only player for the ‘Jackets to repeat on the all-tournament team. Also representing MSUB were Thiago Novis, Flavio Colasanti, Oliver Posarelli, and Rhys Lambert – who was an honorable mention all-tourney pick a season ago. The third-annual MSUB Rimrock Classic was dedicated to the memory of Trevor Wildberger, who passed away in August, 2015 after a battle with cancer. A former commitment to the Yellowjacket men’s soccer team, Wildberger’s presence was felt at the field as his parents Jon and Tammy were in attendance to perform ceremonial kickoffs along with MSUB’s Team IMPACT member Sebastien Easton. 2016 MSUB Rimrock Classic All-Tournament Team Name Pos. School Hometown (Previous School) *Jandir Porta Forward Dixie State West Valley City, UT (Hunter) Thiago Novis Forward MSU Billings Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Fresno Pacific University) Aaron Brennan Midfield Mary Strabane, Northern Ireland (Holy Cross College) Flavio Colasanti Midfield MSU Billings Rome, Italy (University of Rome Tor Vergata) Marc Hernandez Midfield Mary Barcelona, Spain (Escota Meritxell) Gabby Medina Midfield Dixie State Mesquite, NV (Virgin Valley) Andreas Skau Midfield SD Mines Bergen, Norway Bryan Baugh Defense Dixie State Henderson, NV (Green Valley) Rhys Lambert Defense MSU Billings Gold Coast, Australia (Griffith University) Oliver Posarelli Defense MSU Billings Verona, Italy (Educandato Statale Agli Angeli) %Tom Lohmann Goalkeeper MSU Billings Berlin, Germany (Nyack College) *-Offensive MVP; %-Defensive MVP Honorable Mention: Julien Dragomir, FW, MSUB; Dominic Damato, MF, DSU; Ludvig Rhodin, GK, UM; JD Hauenstein, FW, MSUB; Christian Hall, FW, DSU; Julian Toenges, FW, MSUB; Lane Schroeder, FW, SDSMT. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--