Box Score

PHOENIX – The Montana State Billings men's soccer team battled back from a 1-0 first half deficit to earn a 1-1 draw at Grand Canyon University Saturday evening in both school's season-openers.  MSUB sophomore, Thomas Sheets, scored the equalizer for the Yellowjackets early in the second half.

“It's a really good start to our season,” head coach Dan McNally said.  “When you have a really young team, it's great to see that they have the spirit and the toughness to get results.” 

The Antelopes got on the board first in the 28th minute as Mitchell Garcia fired a free kick into the upper 90 for a 1-0 lead.  The game remained 1-0 throughout the rest of the half.  GCU held a significant lead in shots and corner kicks in the first stanza.  GCU led 11-0 in shots and 2-0 in corners.  Yellowjacket senior goalkeeper, Matt Mitchell, made four first half saves.

“In the first half, we gave too much respect to Grand Canyon and they dominated the game,” McNally added.  “At halftime, we changed our formation and we put them under pressure.” 

The Yellowjackets came out in the second half and found pay dirt as Sheets fired a shot out wide off an assist from sophomore Blair Stevenson in the 53rd minute for a 1-1 score.  It was Thomas' third goal in as many games, including the preseason exhibitions with Rocky Mountain College and the MSUB Alumni Game.  With the added pressure put on by MSUB, the Jackets tallied four shots in the second half and one in each overtime period, regaining some of the momentum.

The Jackets were led by Sheets who had two shots with one on goal and the equalizer.  Senior Chris Andre also had two shots, while Stevenson tallied his first career assist.  Redshirt freshman Tyler Currence tallied a shot on goal in his first game as a Yellowjacket.  Mitchell recorded seven saves in goal for MSUB.

Pacific West Conference Player and Freshman of the Year from 2009, Kyle Ciliento, tallied a game-high seven shots with three on goal, but did not find the back of the net.  Ciliento scored 23 goals last season as a freshman after transferring from St. Mary's College in California.  Pat Perkins and Garcia had five and four shots, respectively.  Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, Ben Paneccasio, had three saves for GCU and the one goal against.  He boasted a 0.49 goals against average last season and tallied 12 shutouts.

The Yellowjackets now face Dixie State College on Monday at Grand Canyon at 6 p.m. local time.  Dixie State lost a 3-0 decision to Saint Martin's earlier this evening.  MSUB leads the all-time series with Dixie State, 1-0 with a 4-3 double-overtime victory Aug. 29, 2008, in Salt Lake City.

MSUB then returns home for the 2010 home-opener versus Colorado Christian, Friday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.  The game will be webcast through Penn Atlantic.  Please check the MSUB athletic website for details.   

“It's a good start, but our goal is to continue to improve throughout the season,” McNally said.  “Now we have to refocus and get ready for a tough game against Dixie State on Monday.”