BILLINGS, Mont. – Currently in third place with 10 points in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer standings, Montana State University Billings will face a pair of tough opponents this week with the momentum of three-straight wins and an overall four-game unbeaten streak on its side.
 
The Yellowjackets head to Washington to face No. 6 Seattle Pacific, which is a perfect 5-0-0 in GNAC play this season and is undefeated overall with a record of 8-0-1. Kickoff against the Falcons is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Pacific time at Interbay Stadium. On Saturday, MSUB will travel one hour south of Seattle to Lacey, Wash., and take on Saint Martin's in a 1 p.m. Pacific time start. The Saints are one spot below MSUB in the standings, with six points and a conference record of 2-3-0 (2-7-0 overall). Both games will feature live statistics, available through www.msubsports.com.
 
The Yellowjackets have begun to swing momentum back into their favor this season, after opening with a frustrating mark of 0-3-2. MSUB's first four games of the season extended into overtime, and the 'Jackets fell 2-0 to Northwest Nazarene in their GNAC-opener on Sept. 20.
 
Since the defeat at the hands of the Crusaders, MSUB has not lost a match, storming up the conference standings and improving its record to .500 at 3-3-3 overall and 3-1-1 in GNAC play. After an inspirational 3-3 double overtime draw against powerhouse Simon Fraser – a game in which MSUB battled back after being down 3-1 – the Yellowjackets defeated Western Washington 1-0, the University of Mary 2-1 and South Dakota Mines 2-0.
 
MSUB goalkeeper Tom Lohmann was picked as the GNAC defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 29 – Oct. 5, after making eight saves and earning his second shutout of the season in MSUB's victories last week.
 
Lohmann's goals-against average of 1.20 on the season ranks third in the GNAC, and his 45 saves are the most among conference goalkeepers.
 
Thorge Jess continues to lead MSUB offensively, as the latest of his team-leading four goals came in MSUB's triumph over the Hardrockers on Saturday. Jess has also contributed two assists this season, and his 10 points are tied for sixth most in the GNAC.
 
In his first year in the program, Colin Ralston emerged in MSUB's game against Simon Fraser, scoring twice within five minutes to help the 'Jackets earn the draw. Rhys Lambert and David Loeung have also scored two goals apiece this season for MSUB.
 
Freshmen Niklas Schregel and Jorge Paez have had an impact as well, each finding the net and playing in every game so far in 2014.
 
Defender Sam Butterworth leads the team with three assists on the season, and he has started seven games for the Yellowjackets. Joining him regularly along the back line have been Cameron Lee, Matt Brink and Thomas Saltwell, who have helped anchor a defensive unit that holds an even goal differential with 12 scored and 12 allowed.
 
Kyle Emerick and Fernando Perez have also been effective in the midfield for MSUB, eating up significant minutes for the 'Jackets. Emerick tallied his first assist of the season last week, feeding the ball to Jess on MSUB's first goal against SDSMT.
 
The Yellowjackets currently sit in the middle of the pack among conference teams offensively, ranking fourth in shots (115, 12.78 per game) and fifth in goals (12, 1.33 per game). The 'Jackets are above average defensively, as their 12 goals allowed are third fewest in the GNAC. MSUB has been outshot by its opponents 136-115 on the season, but holds a strong .496 shots-on-goal percentage while allowing a mark of .426.
 
Thursday, October 9 – 4:30 p.m. Pacific – Interbay Stadium
No. 6 Seattle Pacific University Falcons
2014 Record: 8-0-1, 5-0-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Mark Collings, 6th season
2013 GNAC Finish: 2nd (12-4-3, 10-1-3 GNAC – NCAA Regional 1st Round)
 
After advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs last season, Seattle Pacific is off to a roaring start in 2014 with an unbeaten 8-0-1 record and a No. 6 ranking in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America top-25. The Falcons are coming off of back-to-back 3-1 conference victories, defeating Western Washington and Simon Fraser at home last week
 
SPU combines a strong attack with a stellar defense, having outscored opponents by a margin of 20-4 so far this season. Leading the charge have been returning honorable mention all-conference selections Stephen MacDonald and Sean Russell. MacDonald has scored three goals and supplied a team-high five assists for 11 points, while Russell leads the team with four goals and has added two assists for 10 points.
 
Jordan Thompson has also found the net three times for SPU, and Danny Olivas, another returning honorable mention all-conference pick has scored twice and contributed two assists. The Falcons' other seven goals this season have each been scored by a different player, as SPU has displayed that its attack is balanced and extends beyond its starting forwards.
 
Defensively, returning GNAC first-teamers Bryson Pavel and Davis Karaica have started all nine games in helping to anchor the Falcons' back line. Joining them have been Evan Robicheau and Jeffrey Collings, who are the other two SPU defenders to have started every match.
 
Behind the defense is 2013 first-team all-GNAC goalkeeper Cody Lang, whose save percentage of .826 is the second-best in the conference this season. Lang has needed to make just 19 saves in nine games this season, and has helped his team to a conference-best five shutouts between the pipes.
 
As a team the Falcons rank second in the GNAC in points (59) and goals (20), and with an assist on all but one of their scores the team is also second in that category with 19.
 
SPU's four goals allowed are the fewest in the GNAC, and its goals-against average of .420 is the third-best mark in all of the NCAA.
 
The Series: MSUB holds an all-time record of 3-12-4 against the Falcons, and is 1-11-2 on the road against SPU. The Falcons have prevailed in the teams' last three meetings dating back to the 2012 season, with victories of 2-0 and 3-2 over MSUB during the 2013 season.
 
Past Success: Butterworth has had a successful career against the Falcons, providing the assist on a goal by Jess in last season's 3-2 loss. Before that, the junior scored against the Falcons on Sept. 22, 2012 in the 78th minute, helping his team to a 1-1 tie during his first collegiate season. Jesper Fries also has one career goal against SPU, scoring a penalty kick after Jess's goal last September.
 
Saturday, October 11 – 1 p.m. Pacific – SMU Soccer Field
Saint Martin's University Saints
2014 Record: 2-7-0, 2-3-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Rob Walker, 8th season
2013 GNAC Finish: 5th (5-11-2, 5-7-2 GNAC)
 
After opening its season with five-straight defeats, Saint Martin's picked up back-to-back 3-1 wins over South Dakota Mines and the University of Mary. A pair of losses last week snapped SMU's momentum however, as losses of 4-0 to Simon Fraser and 3-1 to Western Washington at home moved the Saints' record to 2-7 on the 2014 season.
 
SMU is averaging more than one goal per game with 11 on the season, but the team's goals-against average of 2.89 on the season ranks No. 9 in the conference.
 
The Saints are being led offensively by Tody Tolo, who has scored four goals and taken a team-best 15 shots on the season. Kyle Witzel has notched three goals and an assist on the season for seven points, and McKray Kohn has contributed two goals.
 
Matt Beaulaurier has also helped facilitate SMU's attack, turning in a team-high three assists in 2014.
 
Rene Caro, Kaleb Strawn, Max Harvey and Luke Chouinard have provided consistency among SMU's midfield in defense, each starting eight games and playing in all nine.
 
Nick Rosato and JJ Olson have split time in goal for the Saints, with the latter leading the team with 27 saves on the season.
 
The Series: MSUB has historically had success against SMU, holding an 8-5-1 all-time record. The 'Jackets are one game over .500 on the road against the Saints at 4-3, with a mark of 4-2-1 at home. The Yellowjackets dismantled the Saints in the teams' most recent meeting, as Emerick, Fries and Jess each scored a goal in a 4-0 triumph on Oct. 17, 2013 in Billings. Jess also scored in the first meeting between the two a season ago, a game that the Saints emerged from victorious with a 2-1 result.