BISMARCK, N.D. – Three different Yellowjackets found the net and the back line for the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team collected its second clean sheet of the season in a big 4-0 victory over host University of Mary in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest Saturday at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
 
Reigning GNAC Player of the Week Ricardo Palomino led the offensive charge, scoring in the 13th and 72nd minutes to push his conference-leading goals total to eight on the season. Julian Toenges and David Loeung each also scored for MSUB, and Loeung added an assist.
 
"We were very prepared for this game and the guys executed our game plan to near perfection," commented MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "Our offense picked up where it left off last week and our defense gave no real chances away. Again, a lot of our players saw the field and did well."
 
The Yellowjackets are now 3-1-1 on the season and have started their conference schedule 1-0. Mary falls to 1-3-1 and is now 0-1 on the season. Christoffer Nogueira had three shots for the Marauders and was responsible for UM's lone shot on frame.
 
MSUB limited Mary to just five shots on the match, while keeping the Marauders under constant pressure with 18 shots. Yellowjacket goalkeeper Tom Lohmann made one save and collected his first full shutout of the season.
 
Also working their way onto the stat sheet for MSUB were Sam Butterworth and Jacob Richter, who had assists on Toenges's and Palomino's goals, respectively. "A special shout out goes to Jacob and Anthony Morrell, who played with a lot of heart in front of their families and friends in their hometown," Balog commented on the two Bismarck natives on MSUB's roster.
 
Loeung and Toenges each placed three of their five shots on the game on target, while Palomino scored on both of his attempts that he put on frame.
 
Senior captain Cameron Lee played all 90 minutes defensively for MSUB, earning St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors for his significant contribution to the shutout.
 
"This result allows us to go into the next GNAC game with a lot of confidence," Balog said.
 
THE BUZZ: MSUB has allowed just one goal in its last three matches, while scoring 14 in the same timespan…Palomino entered the match ranking fourth in all of NCAA Division II in scoring with six goals…three players in front of him had seven goals entering Saturday's action.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets return home next weekend to host a pair of GNAC foes in Western Washington University and Simon Fraser University. MSUB will welcome the Vikings on Sept. 24 for a 1:30 p.m. start, before hosting the Clan on Sept. 26 in a 4 p.m. start. Both matches will be part of a doubleheader with the Yellowjacket women's soccer team, which hosts GNAC opponents Western Oregon University and Concordia University (Ore.) on the same dates.