Box Score RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rhys Lambert slotted home the game-winning goal in the 68th minute, and MSUB held tough through the final whistle to collect a back-and-forth 3-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win over South Dakota Mines on Thursday night at Sioux Park Field.
 
The Yellowjackets took the lead a total of three times in the match, moving ahead on an early goal by Colin Ralston and breaking a 1-1 tie with a finish by Jorge Paez early in the second half. South Dakota Mines equalized after both goals however, as Sean Tabbert found the net twice for the Hardrockers.
 
MSUB withstood a comeback effort by SDSMT, as Yellowjacket goalkeeper Tom Lohmann made two saves down the stretch to ensure the victory for MSUB. "For the first time in almost exactly two years, this is a winning program again," commented MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "I'm extremely proud of our team to bounce back like this, after last season and after starting this season 0-3-3. It wasn't an easy game against a tough-to-play South Dakota Mines team, but we grinded it out."
 
The Yellowjackets nudged their record above .500 for the first time since the 2012 season, as MSUB is now 5-4-3 on the season and 5-2-1 in conference action. The Yellowjackets outshot the Hardrockers 20-6 on the match, but SDSMT was efficient by placing four of its six shots on target. Michael McGraw supplied the assist on Tabbert's first goal, his first of the season.
 
MSUB wasted no time getting onto the scoreboard, as Ralston scored his fourth goal of the season in the fifth minute of the match. Kyle Emerick provided his fourth assist in four games on the play, giving MSUB the early lead.
 
The Yellowjackets had three-straight shots knocked down within the opening 20 minutes, as a strike by David Loeung sandwiched two by Thorge Jess that were handled by the Hardrockers' defense.
 
In the 23rd minute, McGraw sent a cross into the box that Tabbert headed home to knot the score at 1-1.
 
The 'Jackets managed two more shots in the first half as Cameron Lee and Paez each had a look towards goal, but neither finished on target and the teams headed to the locker room tied.
 
MSUB emerged from the break strong, as Paez foreshadowed his upcoming goal with a shot that required a save by Braeden Federle in the 51st minute. The 'Jackets pestered the SDSMT back line with a corner kick and two more shots within the next two minutes, before Paez struck home in the 52nd on an assist by Loeung.
 
Repeating its first-half feat, the Hardrockers equalized again as Tabbert's shot struck nylon just eight minutes later to make the score 2-2.
 
Jess nearly had a breakthrough within the next minute, but his header shot was blocked. Paez took two more shots and Loeung had one in the next three minutes, but the 'Jackets couldn't find the net for the time being.
 
In the 68th minute, Lambert sealed the deal with the final goal of the match past Federle.
 
After a 2-0 win over SDSMT on Oct. 4, the Yellowjackets completed the season sweep of the GNAC foe with the 3-2 win Thursday. "I like the fact that we can play with the best, but also work hard when we have to," Balog said. "That blue-collar mentality paid off today and I can only complement the guys for that. Now we need to put our heads down and get back to work to try and get a result against Mary on Saturday. It doesn't stop here for us, we still have everything to play for."
 
NEXT UP: The 'Jackets finish their road trip with a matchup against the University of Mary on Saturday in more GNAC action. Kickoff is set for noon Mountain time at Reichert Field in Bismarck, N.D.