McNally Interview on 2012 Senior Class

Billings, Mont. – In the midst of a post season run, it's at this moment that we must pause and reflect on the hard work and sacrifice that student-athletes endure on a daily basis. Saturday, Nov. 3 will mark the final regular season match for Montana State Billings men's soccer program; thus signifying Senior Day and the final home contest that seven student-athletes will compete in.
 
Thomas Chameraud, Chris Hawkins, Joshua Marocchi, Conner Moe, Thomas Sheets, Blair Stevenson and Clifton Thomas have led the Yellowjackets to a current 11-4-2 overall record and 7-4-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference mark in 2012. Since 2009 the seniors have won a total of 38 matches, and have etched their units in the record books along the way. Their 11 wins in the 2009 and 2012 campaigns are tied for the second highest win total by a team in the program's history.
 
In 2009 they scored a total of 44 goals; second most by any Yellowjacket unit. The 2011 and 2010 teams scored 28 goals and 27 goals respectively, landing them in the fourth and fifth slots for the most goals scored by a team in a season.
 
From 2009-11 they have attributed for 227 saves, and their save totals in each year 85 (2009), 76 (2010), and 66 (2011) rank sixth, seventh and eighth in the program's history.
 
Chameraud has spent two years with the Yellowjacket program. He has played in 35 games and started all 35 contests, registering 3,100 minutes. In his career Chameraud has scored five goals and 18 assists, for a total of 28 points. He was a 2011 Second Team All-GNAC selection and a 2012 GNAC All-Academic Team selection.
 
Hawkins has been a member of the Yellowjacket program for two years. He has played in 23 games and started two contests, registering 541 minutes played. Hawkins was selected to the 2012 GNAC All-Academic Team.
 
Marocchi has spent three years with the MSUB men's soccer program. He has played in 47 contests while starting 25 matches, registering 2,666 minutes. In his career Marocchi has scored two goals and five assists, for a total of nine points. He was selected to the 2011 and 2012 GNAC All-Academic teams.
 
Moe has been a part of the Yellowjackets for three years and has played in 53 matches while starting 52, registering 4,701 minutes played. In his career he has scored four goals and one assist, for a total of nine points. Moe earned a Second Team All-GNAC selection in 2010 and First Team All-GNAC honors in 2011.
 
Sheets has spent three years in the Yellowjacket program. He has played in 51 matches and started 42, registering 3,914 minutes played. In his career, Sheets has scored 16 goals and nine assists, for a total of 41 points. Sheets earned 2010 All-GNAC honorable mention honors, and 2011 Second Team All-GNAC honors.
 
Stevenson has been a member of MSUB men's soccer program for four years. He has played 61 games and made 42 starts, registering 3,449 minutes played. In his career, Stevenson has scored one goal and two assists, for a total of three points.
 
Thomas has been with the Yellowjackets programs for four years. He has played in 54 contests and made 18 starts, registering 2,026 minutes on the pitch. In his career, Thomas has scored one goal and five assists, for a total of seven points.
 
“This class has meant a lot to the program,” stated eighth year head coach Dan McNally. “These guys have bought into everything we have tried to do and now you see the results with us currently being 11-4-2. They have been magnificent this year, I'm very proud of them and I am sure they will all go on to lead very good lives.”
 
Saturday's matchup will be key in making a legitimate case for a bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament. Acquiring 12 total and eight conference wins in a season is very difficult; especially in the very competitive GNAC where conference foes such as Simon Fraser and Seattle Pacific consistently land in the national rankings.
 
Northwest Nazarene University comes into the Magic City 8-4-5 overall and second in the GNAC with a 7-2-4 mark. A victory over the Crusaders will be a nice addition to MSUB's 2012 resume. Defeating Northwest Nazarene will not be an easy task, they are a balanced team and very solid on both ends of the field.
 
Offensively they have four players that have scored three or more goals this season. Stephen Marshall and Jaime Torres are both tied for the team lead with four scores. Defensively goalkeeper Alfredo Ontiveros has recorded eight shutouts and 66 saves on the year.
 
The Crusaders edged the Yellowjackets 1-0 in their first meeting in Nampa, Idaho. MSUB will be anxious to reverse the results on the scoreboard at Yellowjacket Field.
 
“Northwest Nazarene has a great team this year so it will be a very tough game,” McNally said. “We are looking forward to the challenge.”
 
In order for MSUB to change the outcome of Saturday's contest they will need Chameraud to continue his solid play as he has been instrumental all season in initiating the Jackets' attack. Legofi Crawford, Kyle Emerick and Sheets will need to be efficient and capitalize on their opportunities. The trio all have four goals each on the season.
 
Between the pipes sophomore goal keeper Eoin Hurley currently has four shutouts and 49 saves this season. He will look to increase these totals and neutralize the Crusaders attack attempts.
 
Matt Brink has had a great season on backline, and the Yellowjackets will need a great outing from not only Brink, but the entire backline on Nov. 3.
 
With 11 overall wins currently, MSUB has a legitimate case for a West Region NCAA Tournament bid. A 12^th win and landing second in the GNAC will increase the strength of their resume. Yellowjacket fans are encouraged to cheer on the seniors on their day at Yellowjacket Field as they take on Northwest Nazarene and push to extend their season at 1:00 p.m.