BILLINGS, Mont. – With a stunning come-from-behind 3-3 draw and a strong 1-0 victory, the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team picked up its first points of the season in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play last week against Simon Fraser and Western Washington.
 
Embarking on one of the most difficult road trips of its season, the Yellowjackets battled back after being behind 3-1 to come up with a draw and their first GNAC point against the Clan last Thursday. Two nights later, MSUB downed WWU 1-0 for its first win of the season.
 
With the victories, MSUB is now in fourth place in the conference standings, with a record of 1-1-1. Overall, the 'Jackets are 1-3-3 through the first seven games of the 2014 season.
 
Returning home this weekend, MSUB will face the University of Mary on Thursday at 1 p.m., with the Hardrockers of South Dakota School of Mines coming to town for a 3:30 p.m. game on Saturday. Live video and statistics will be provided for both games via www.msubsports.com.
 
Saturday's game against South Dakota Mines will be the second game in a men's-women's doubleheader and is part of the MSUB Futbol Frenzy. Free chili and soft drinks will be served while supplies last at Saturday's game, and fans are encouraged to attend the women's soccer game beginning at 1 p.m. and the home volleyball game that evening against Seattle Pacific at 7 p.m. as part of 'Jacket Saturday.
 
Thorge Jess scored his team-leading third goal of the season last Thursday against SFU, capitalizing on a penalty kick to even the score at 1-1 early on. Overall on the season, Jess has added a pair of assists for eight total points, which is tied for eighth-most in the conference.
 
Scoring the first two goals of his Yellowjacket career against the Clan, sophomore Colin Ralston helped fuel the comeback. Ralston has seen action in five games so far this season, and has placed five of his nine shots on target for a shots-on-goal percentage of .556.
 
Also with a pair of goals this season for MSUB is Rhys Lambert, who most recently scored the game-winner against Western Washington on Saturday. Lambert has also added an assist for five points this season, and he has played in all seven games for the 'Jackets in the midfield.
 
Freshman Jorge Paez is MSUB's other goal scorer this season, finding the net just 12 seconds into MSUB's game against Colorado Mesa earlier in September.
 
Strom Nuernberger has earned significant playing time in the midfield for MSUB, starting all but one game so far and contributing an assist during his freshman campaign.
 
Defensively, Tom Saltwell has started all seven games and is leading the team's field players with 674 minutes along the back line this season. Joining him as anchors have been captains Matt Brink and Cameron Lee.
 
Niklas Schregel has made an impact as a freshman in the midfield, starting six of the seven games, and David Loeung has been effective as well seeing action in all seven contests.
 
In goal, Tom Lohmann has played every minute for MSUB and has made a GNAC-high 37 saves on the season. His shutout against WWU on Saturday was the first of the season, and he earned the assist on Lambert's goal with a booming free kick.
 
As a team, MSUB has taken 86 shots this season, placing 42 on target for a shots-on-goal percentage of .488. The 'Jackets have scored eight goals and allowed 11, and have had assists on all but one of their goals.
 
Thursday, October 2 – 1 p.m. – Yellowjacket Field
University of Mary Marauders
2014 Record: 2-2-1, 1-2-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Dave Cook, 7th season
2013 GNAC Finish: 7th (3-10-3, 3-8-3 GNAC)
 
The Marauders kicked off the conference portion of their 2014 schedule with a 6-3 victory over South Dakota Mines, but lost both of their GNAC contests last week against Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin's.
 
Mary is being led this season by Jordan Pearce, who has a GNAC-high six goals on the season. Pearce also has an assist in 2014, and his 19 shots are tied for most on the team.
 
With three goals apiece, Aaron Brennan and Christoffer Nogueira have supplied much of the offensive firepower as well. The two have also combined for five assists this season, and Nogueira is tied with Pearce for the team lead in shots with 19.
 
Aaron McElwee and Cole Olson have also each scored this season, and UM has had an assist on all 14 of its goals so far.
 
While the Marauders are allowing just more than two goals per game, they have outscored opponents 14-11 on the season. The team's average of 2.80 goals per contest is the highest mark in the conference, and Mary has the second-most points in the GNAC with 42 this season.
 
Jack West and Michael Frenzel have split time in the net for UM, combining for 22 saves in nearly 490 minutes this year.
 
The Series: MSUB holds an all-time 24-6-1 record against the Marauders, and the 'Jackets have not lost to the North Dakota opponent in more than a decade. The last time Mary defeated MSUB was on Nov. 1, 2002, in a 1-0 result in Billings. Last season, the teams battled to a scoreless draw on Nov. 2, after MSUB defeated Mary 1-0 on Oct. 5, 2013.
 
Saturday, October 4 – 3:30 p.m. – Yellowjacket Field – Futbol Frenzy
South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers
2014 Record: 1-6-0, 0-3-0 GNAC
Head Coach: Joe Burger, 2nd season
2013 GNAC Finish: 8th (0-16-1, 0-13-1 GNAC)
 
Defeating Southwest Baptist 2-1 on Sept. 12, South Dakota Mines earned its first-ever men's soccer victory. The Hardrockers are 0-3 so far in GNAC play, losing 5-0 to Seattle Pacific last Saturday after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Saint Martin's two days earlier.
 
The road match this weekend will be the first of the season away from home for SDSMT.
 
Individually, returner Michael McGraw leads the team with four goals and has taken a team-best 19 shots so far this season. McGraw is one of six players to have started in every game, and is one of three goal scorers for the Hardrockers.
 
Sean Tabbert has found the net twice for SDSMT, and Jake Smith has also contributed a goal. All-conference returner Andreas Skau has played in all seven games and has added an assist for the Hardrockers. Skau's 16 shots are the second-most on the team behind McGraw's total.
 
In goal, Braeden Federle and Eric Milbrandt have each seen time, combining for a goals-against average of 2.83 this season. Milbrandt leads the team with 17 saves.
 
Overall, SDSMT has been outscored 20-7 but outshot by only 10 at 91-81. The Hardrockers have kept pace with opponents in terms of corner kicks, winning 28 while surrendering 32.
 
The Series: MSUB is 2-0-1 all time against the Hardrockers, who joined the GNAC as an affiliate member last season. The teams fought to a 1-1 double-overtime draw in their last meeting on Oct. 31, 2013, after MSUB won the first match of the season 4-2.