Box Score
BISMARCK, N.D. – Three second half goals by the Montana State Billings men's soccer team propelled it to a 4-1 victory at the University of Mary Wednesday evening. With the victory, the Yellowjackets snapped a three-game skid and improved to 6-5-1 on the year, while the Marauders fell to 0-12.
“When you lose three games in a row, it is easy for a young team to lose confidence and trust in each other, but we have a great fighting spirit and the guys really deserved the win tonight,” MSUB head coach Dan McNally said.
Just 44 seconds into the match, MSUB sophomore Clifton Thomas fired a shot from 35 yards out off a pass from sophomore Blair Stevenson, beating Marauder goalkeeper Derek Luptak to the upper corner for the score and a 1-0 lead. It was the fourth fastest goal in school history. In addition, three of the four fastest goals in school history have come against the University of Mary.
“That might be the best goal a MSUB player has scored in the past six years that I have seen,” McNally added. “It was a great shot and a fantastic way to start the game.”
It was Thomas' first goal of the season and first of his collegiate career. The assist was Stevenson's second of the season.
The game remained 1-0 throughout the rest of the first half as MSUB held an 8-4 lead in shots. The Jackets also had a 5-1 lead in shots on goal. Both teams had one corner kick in the first half, too. Luptak made four first half saves, while MSUB senior goalkeeper Matt Mitchell had one stop.
The three second half goals came off of set pieces, including two corner kicks and a throw in. Junior Garion Holian got things started in the 67th minute as he headed in a corner kick off the foot of senior captain Chris Andre for a 2-0 score. It was Holian's third goal of the season and Andre's team-leading fourth assist of the year.
Eleven minutes later, Holian found the back of the net again. This time he took passes from sophomore Thomas Sheets and senior James Henry off a throw in as the ball was tapped to Holian in front of the net for a 3-0 lead.
MSUB swelled the lead to 4-0 as junior Peter Davies scored his second goal of the season and Sheets added his second assist of the game. This time Sheets passed it to Davies who shot and the ball went off Luptak's hands for the score.
The Marauders got on the board in the 88th minute as Linus Onuoha scored off a scramble in front of the net with an assist from Ryan Buchholz for a 4-1 score.
MSUB dominated the statistics leading in shots 16-7 and 12-3 in shots on goal. The Yellowjackets tallied six corner kicks and converted two of them, while Mary had three corners. Luptak tallied eight saves and Mitchell had two stops.
Holian led the way with five shots and two scores, while Davies had four shots and a score. Andre Added three shots and an assist, while Thomas had two shots and the first goal. Henry and Stevenson each had an assist.
“We have played eight of our first 12 games on the road,” McNally said. “To have a winning record at this point is a positive for us. I thought three of our sophomores had great games tonight as Clifton Thomas, Blair Stevenson and Conner Moe were outstanding and our future looks bright with those players.”
McNally is in his sixth year as the head coach at MSUB and earned his 50th victory tonight. He now stands at 50-46-6 and is the winningest coach in school history.
MSUB has the weekend off before it returns to the road at Saint Martin's and at Seattle Pacific Oct. 21 and Oct. 23, respectively. The Jackets then return home to close out the regular season with four matches beginning Oct. 28 at 12:30 p.m. versus Western Washington at Yellowjacket Field.
