Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings men's soccer team wraps up their California road trip this weekend with matches Thursday, Sept. 12 against Azusa Pacific University and Saturday, Sept. 14 against Point Loma Nazarene University. The Yellowjackets (0-1-1) are seeking their first victory of the season.
 
MSUB is still experiencing the early growing pains of incorporating new players in the program, and while the Yellowjackets were unable to capture their first victory they showed signs of improvement from the San Francisco State match-up to the Sonoma State contest. Kyle Emerick scored the equalizing goal against the Seawolves to send the match into extra minutes, as the game eventually ended in a 1-1 double overtime draw.
 
Aodhan Brownlee and Sam Butterworth earned All-Tournament honors at this year's Seawolf Classic. Brownlee registered 136 minutes over the two game span and took two shots; and Butterworth notched 200 minutes on the pitch, helping the defense force opponents to a .355 shot on goal percentage.
 
Currently MSU Billings averages a .059 shot percentage, a .471 shot on goal percentage and a .727 save percentage. In the GNAC the Yellowjackets rank No. 3 in shots, and No. 4 in points and saves.
 
Azusa Pacific is currently 1-2 on the season, winning their most recent contest against Hope International University. Currently a provisional Division II member, the Cougars have carried their success from the NAIA into the PacWest. Including a NAIA national championship in 2007, Azusa has recorded double digit win totals in 10 consecutive seasons. The Cougars went 12-6-1 in 2012 and were virtually unbeatable at home with a 9-1 mark.
 
"Azusa Pacific is a quality team that had a good record last year," stated head coach Alex Balog. "They are well coached and bring back an experienced senior class. We understand it will be a challenging game, but I know that our guys will be up for it."
 
As a team they registered 134 points (49 goals, 36 assists), a .469 shot on goal percentage, 63 saves and three shutouts last year. Azusa returns Oktay Bulut and Chip Cox from the 2012 roster.  Bulut, First Team All-PacWest and PacWest Newcomer of the Year, lead the team in points (29), goals (11) and assists (7), while Cox started five games at keeper, recording 15 saves, a .714 save percentage and one shutout.
 
MSU Billings and the Cougars will start play at 7:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Sept. 12.
 
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Point Loma Nazarene heads into Saturday's match with a 0-2 record, after suffering two consecutive shutouts. The Sea Lions have allowed opponents to score seven goals and record a .553 shot on goal percentage. Point Loma also struggled last season posting a 2-16 overall record. Despite unfavorable results in 2012 and 2013 the Sea Lions still have talented players.
 
Griffin Fuller, Kenny Ortega, Carter Phillips and Daniel Ten Bosch all return from last year's team. Ten Bosch started 17 of 18 matches and led the team in points with three goals and one assist. Fuller and Ortega both started over 12 games and scored one goal each. Phillips started 16 games and notched 1430:59 minutes between the pipes, registering 64 saves and one shutout.
 
It is also to be noted that Point Loma's head coach Phil Wolf lead Azusa Pacific to their championship in 2007.
 
"Point Loma is in a rebuilding stage, but Coach Wolf is the right guy to turn the program around," Balog said. "They will be well coached, and despite their rough start, we cannot underestimate them."
 
The Yellowjackets and Sea Lions contest will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on Sept. 14.
 
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