BILLINGS, Mont. – The top-scoring offense in the NCAA Division II West Region put its power on display Thursday afternoon, as the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team erased an early deficit with four straight goals in a 4-1 triumph over Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Concordia University at Yellowjacket Field.
 
Senior Julien Dragomir posted his second straight multi-goal performance, scoring twice to move into the No. 1 spot in the GNAC in goals with nine on the season. The first career goal for freshman Chad Triplett counted as the game-winner, and junior Ricardo Palomino added his fifth of the year to ice the match in the 82nd minute.


 
"The game plan was to pressure them high from the get-go, and we executed that very well," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "This was a great performance overall, and I was very happy with the way reacted to them scoring their goal. This was a very good win for us, and it can take us into the SPU game on Saturday with a lot of confidence."
 
MSUB, ranked No. 8 in the first NCAA Division II West Region rankings of the year released Wednesday, improved to 7-4-3 overall with the win and 3-2-3 in GNAC play. The Cavaliers fell to 4-6-2 and 1-5-1 in league play with the loss.
 
CU's Matt Paine took advantage of the wind at his back in the opening 12 minutes, firing a shot from 40 yards away that drilled the far post. The 'Cavs took the lead less than a minute later, on a play that started with Stefan Vincent connecting with Abdiel Morfin on the left side. Morfin continued with a pass to an unmarked Erick Urzua, who beat MSUB keeper Joe Scott for his third goal of the year.
 
The 'Jackets responded to the deficit quickly, with JD Hauenstein going to work in the left corner against a pair of defenders. He carried the ball into the box and found Dragomir with a pass, and watched as the senior pulled the 'Jackets even with a finish from close range in the 15th minute.
 
Less than four minutes later, Triplett struck from the left side of the field after receiving a pass from Guillaume Kremer. Looking to cross the ball into the box, the freshman's left-footed strike from 35 yards away carried over CU goalkeeper Grant Alcorn's head and off of the right goalpost in the upper corner of the frame. "Everyone was in the box and the wind was taking the ball that way, so putting it back post was the idea," Triplett commented with a smile. "Thankfully it actually hit the post and went in."


 
MSUB's strong first half stemmed from its possession in the defensive third, as center backs Rhys Lambert and Oliver Posarelli facilitated constant movement from side-to-side. Right back Garret Robinson helped push the ball up the flank, and Kremer was also a key distributor out of the center of the field.
 
The Yellowjackets kept momentum early on in the second half, patiently building their attack with the wind in their favor. It was again movement out of the back that opened up Dragomir's second goal of the day. Palomino worked against a defender on the right side, before playing the ball to Robinson near the goal box. The senior connected on a one-two ball to Posarelli in the corner, and Dragomir was on the receiving end to head home a perfect shot into the lower-left corner of the net. "Julien is incredibly effective, and four goals in his last two games is a reward for his hard work," Palomino commented on his fellow striker. "I am proud of him."
 
A trying moment for MSUB's back line came on a dangerous free kick from just outside the goal box in the 78th minute. Trent Lowe curled a shot around the wall, but Scott was able to knock it away. Recovering quickly, the junior jumped up and pounced on a shot by Todd Gibbs from point-blank range to keep his team's lead at two goals.
 
Palomino scored his fifth goal of the year two minutes later to seal the win. Sophomore Adam Hepburn lobbed a through ball from the midfield into the box, and Palomino shook off a defender to touch a perfect shot over the charging goalkeeper and into the net.


 
The Yellowjackets out-shot the Cavaliers 11-6 overall, and scored on four of their five attempts that were on target. Urzua was the lone Cavalier with multiple shots in the game, and Alcorn had one save in the match.
 
THE BUZZ: Triplett was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB entered the day with the most goals in the west region, and now has 32 on the season…Dragomir has scored four goals in his last two matches and passed CU's Paine (8 goals) for the highest total in the GNAC…the goal for Palomino was the 21st of his career…Posarelli and Hauenstein each had their first career assist…MSUB remained undefeated against Concordia, with a 2-0-2 all-time record and a mark of 1-0-1 this season.
 
NEXT UP: MSUB continues GNAC play on Saturday with another 3 p.m. kickoff, as the 'Jackets host Seattle Pacific University at Yellowjacket Field. Live video and live statistics will be available through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.