BILLINGS, Mont. – For the second season in-a-row Ricardo Palomino scored four goals against Northwest College, leading the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team to a convincing 7-1 preseason exhibition win Saturday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.
 
Tom Saltwell, Ian Bream, and Julien Dragomir each contributed a goal, while Julian Toenges had a pair of assists for the home team. Danny Mort had the lone goal for NWC, which came on the team's only shot on target in the match.
 
"We needed a convincing win, in terms of the way that we played," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "We asked the guys to build out of the back, and they did that today. Our team did a very good job of executing the game plan."
 
Palomino needed just six minutes to complete his hat trick, putting on a lightning-quick display of offense reminiscent of his NCAA Division II West Region-leading total of 16 a year ago.
 
Palomino's first goal was created after a cross by Toenges into the box to Thiago Novis. The senior striker fired a shot off of the crossbar, and Palomino was there to finish the job with a leaping half-volley.
 
The Trappers responded quickly however, as Mort gathered the ball and attacked towards the box. He shook off an MSUB defender inside the box, and finished a low shot just inside the left post.
 
Just two minutes later, Palomino struck again on a ball that originated in Lohmann's box and featured four total touches by four different players. The keeper's long ball was controlled by Toenges, who flicked a through ball to Garret Robinson. After a one-touch through ball into the box, Palomino found himself in front of goal and needed only a right-footed shot to beat the keeper into the lower-right corner of the net. 

"The team deserves a lot of credit for replicating what we did in training," Balog commented on the seamless connections from back-to-front. "We asked them to play a little more vertically and attacking-minded. To go from our keeper to the back of the net of the opposition, in just four touches, is outstanding."
 
Capping off the run in the 18th minute of the match, Palomino's final strike of the first half came courtesy of a creative ball out of the midfield by Adam Hepburn. The sophomore threaded a through ball to Toenges, who combined easily with Palomino on a one-two ball resulting in a 3-1 lead.
 
Adding to the Yellowjackets' total in the 27th minute was senior defender Tom Saltwell, who nodded home a cross from Flavio Colasanti just in front of the goal. "I am absolutely thrilled for Tom," Balog said of the fourth-year senior. "It's awesome to see all the work he has put in the last few seasons accumulate in his first goal. What I'm very happy with was the gesture he made after the goal, kissing the 'TW26' on his sleeve. Trevor (Wildberger) passed away just over a year ago, and that was a very fitting gesture, so I thanked Tom for that."


 
MSUB opened the second half aggressively, creating several chances in the first 10 minutes. JD Hauenstein nearly made it 5-1, but his shot on a cross from Victor Sanchez rattled off of the right goal post. Bream found the net shortly thereafter, punching home a nice cross from Alexis Chavez to make it 5-1.


 
Continuing to press forward, the 'Jackets scored two more goals in the span of less than 30 seconds. Dragomir slotted home another cross by Toenges, and Palomino added his fourth of the match on a strong, low cross by Eli Williams out of the left corner.


 
MSUB possessed the ball well the entire match, building its attack out of the defensive third and creating 24 total shots and 14 on target. Palomino led the team with five shots and four on frame, while Novis and Hauenstein each had four shots.
 
Tom Lohmann and Joe Scott split time in goal for the 'Jackets, while Aaron Laughlin made six saves for the Trappers.
 
"It's going to take good teams to stop us if we can replicate the way we played offensively in this game," said Balog.
 
THE BUZZ: Palomino was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…after scoring just one goal in its first two exhibition matches, the 'Jacket offense broke out of its dry spell…NWC finished the match with 10 players after a red card…Palomino began his career at MSUB by scoring four goals against NWC exactly one year ago to the day in a preseason exhibition match on Aug. 27, 2015.
 
UP NEXT: Having completed its preseason schedule, the 'Jackets will get set to open their 2016 regular season at Cal Poly Pomona next Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Mountain time in the first counting match of the season next week.