Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings men's and women's soccer programs are entering pivotal matches in their schedule this weekend. Both teams are looking to bounce back off recent losses over the weekend. Getting back in the winning column will not come easy as each team will travel into hostile territory to compete against conference opponents.
 
Women's Soccer
 
The Yellowjackets are currently 10-2 overall and second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 6-2 mark. This past weekend MSUB split its matches defeating Northwest Nazarene University 2-1, and losing to Western Oregon University 1-0 in double overtime.
 
Katlyn Lokay and Jaucelyn Richter turned in solid performances over the weekend and earned Red Lion GNAC Player-of-the-Week honorable mention honors. Lokay's defense was terrific against both the Crusaders and Western Oregon. Richter had the game winning assist against Northwest Nazarene and also had all five of her shot attempts land on goal.
 
Heidi Greenback currently leads the team in total points and goals scored with 11 and five respectively. Richter leads the team in assists with five and has two goals on the year to put her second on the team in points with nine.
 
This upcoming weekend matches will be extremely challenging for the Jackets, as they play rematch games against Central Washington University and Seattle Pacific University. In their first game at Yellowjacket Field, MSUB shutout Central Washington 2-0 as freshman goal keeper Aiko Johnson earned her sixth win of the season.
 
The Wildcats are on a four game skid and hungry for a win. In their Sept. 22 contest they played Seattle Pacific to a 1-1 double overtime draw. MSUB's defense will need to have a good game in order to past this test as Central Washington's Carson Mckole and Kelsey Villegas both have five goals on the year. The Yellowjackets and Wildcats will battle on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific Time).
 
Following their Thursday matchup, MSUB will head into Seattle, Wash. on Saturday, Oct. 13 in a highly anticipated bout with conference rival Seattle Pacific. In the Oct. 9 NSCAA/Continental Tire west region poll the Falcons hold the No. 5 spot, while MSUB comes in at No. 7. The Yellowjackets got the best of the Falcons last meeting, defeating Seattle Pacific 2-1. This match will be more difficult than last meeting, not only due to the fact that MSUB will be on the Falcons home turf, but Seattle Pacific has great momentum coming into this weekend winning three consecutive games.
 
The Yellowjackets offense will need to find their rhythm early and put together strong attacks as Seattle Pacific has only given up 11 scores on the year.
 
With only six games left, MSUB will have to put together a strong run to close out the regular as the top four teams in the GNAC qualify for the conference tournament.
 
“We are looking to regroup and get back to playing or style of soccer after a tough home loss to Western Oregon this past Saturday,” stated head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “There are no easy GNAC games and this should prove to be a very difficult road trip for us. We had an excellent week of practice and come into this match with a sense of urgency and focus.”
 
 
Men's Soccer
 
MSUB men's team is currently at 6-3-1 overall and fourth in the GNAC with a 3-3-1 record. While the Jackets only had one game this past weekend, it was their eighth away. Playing in Nampa, Idaho on Saturday, Oct. 6 against Northwest Nazarene; the Jackets could not come back from an early first half goal by the Crusaders and ultimately fell 1-0.
 
Landon Horst and Thomas Chameraud have been playing well thus far in 2012, as they are tied for the lead in total points with eight. Horst has three goals and two assists, and Chameraud has one goal and six assists.
 
Conner Moe leads the backline and has them playing solid defense on the year, as they have helped goal keeper Eoin Hurley post three shutouts this season.
 
Matt Brink, Legofi Crawford, Moe and  Thomas Sheets all have earned Red Lion GNAC Player-of-the-Week honors this season; with Brink and Sheets earning theirs the previous weekend.
 
It's been a long journey thus far, but MSUB plays their last two regular season road games this weekend. A great showing in these two matches can set the tone for their six game home stint starting next Thursday, Oct. 18.
 
The Yellowjackets will play their Thursday, Oct. 11 game in Seattle, Wash. against Seattle Pacific. This rematch will be an exciting and highly competitive event. In the Oct. 9 NSCAA/Continental Tire poll the Falcons hold the No. 9 national ranking and the No. 2 west region ranking. They are 8-1-2 overall, 4-1-2 in the conference and have a 4-0 home record.
 
In the Sept. 22 contest at Yellowjacket Field, MSUB battled Seattle Pacific to a 1-1 double overtime draw. Thursday's match proves to be a tough test for MSUB as the Falcons are on a two game winning streak. The defense will need to limit Blaine Carver's activity, he has four goals and two assists on the season.
 
After the Oct. 11 match, The Yellowjackets will travel south to Lacey, Wash. for their second game with Saint Martin's University. MSUB defeated the Saints 3-0 in the Sept. 20 game in Billings, Mont. With Saint Martin's being 2-9 overall, and last in the conference with a 1-6 mark, the team has nothing to lose and could pose a major threat to the Jackets.
 
This can be a trap game for MSUB coming after a highly anticipated contest with Seattle Pacific; but eighth year head coach Dan McNally has done a great job all year of having the Jackets focus on the team and not their record, no matter how successful a team is at the moment.  
 
“After the disappointment at Northwest Nazarene last weekend we can't wait to play and get that game out of our minds,” stated McNally. “We have worked hard in practice this week and are looking forward to our trip to Seattle. It will be two difficult games but we are having a good season and we feel we can beat anyone on our day.”
 
Yellowjacket fans can visit www.gnacsports.com and follow the appropriate links to get live stats and view webcast of MSUB away contests.