BILLINGS, Mont. – A tall test awaits the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team on the road this weekend, with a pair of crucial mid-season Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches on the schedule.
 
MSUB (5-6, 3-2 GNAC) takes on first-place Western Washington University (5-2-3, 4-0-1 GNAC) on Thursday night under the lights in Bellingham, Wash., with kickoff set for 8 p.m. Mountain time. The 'Jackets then head east to Nampa, Idaho, to challenge Northwest Nazarene University (4-5-1, 1-3-1 GNAC) on Saturday at 3 p.m. Both matches will feature live video and live statistics, available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.
 
"In terms of intensity, desire, and passion, we played our best game of the season against Simon Fraser last week," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "Now we need to add a bit more quality and cut out some individual mistakes that lead to goals when we play WWU and NNU this weekend. Both programs have a lot to play for and will be tough opponents."
 
The 'Jackets had just one match last week, and fell to No. 22 Simon Fraser University 1-0 on the road on Saturday. "We need to get confidence from our performance against SFU," Balog said. "We hung with the

number-two ranked team in our region for 90 minutes. We are much more solid defensively than we were at the beginning of the season, and with some players coming back from injury, we will have some more quality to work with offensively." 

MSUB is in the midst of a five-game road stretch, and will have two more matches away from Billings at Concordia University on Oct. 19 and at Seattle Pacific University on Oct. 21.
 
TEAM FORM: W-W-L-W-L
 
FIRST GOAL-LESS GAME OF 2017: MSUB's narrow defeat at Simon Fraser marked the first time this season the 'Jackets were shut out in a match. Displaying a diverse offense comparable to last season, MSUB has scored 20 goals in its 11 games, averaging just under two per match and ranking fourth in the conference. Additionally, 11 different players have found the net this season, and four more players who haven't scored have provided at least one assist.
 
SAVES RECORD REACHABLE FOR LOHMANN: With 39 saves so far this season, senior goalkeeper Tom Lohmann has upped his career total to 184. He enters this week just 12 saves away from matching the MSUB school record, which stands at 196 and is owned by Matt Mitchell (2007-2010).

MSUB Career Saves Leaders (as of Oct. 11, 2017)

Rk.	Name	Saves	Seasons
1.	Matt Mitchell	196	2007-2010
2.	Tom Lohmann	184	2014-17
3.	Eoin Hurley	177	2011-13
4.	Jess Feldtman	174	2003-05

TAKE A SHOT: Junior midfielder Guillaume Kremer is one of the most frequent shooters in the conference, entering the week with 37 total shots and an average of 3.36 per game. The marks are the second highest in the GNAC, as he stands behind only Anthony Dean of Western Washington (49 shots, 4.90 per game).
 
DEFENDING THE SET: Among the 24 goals MSUB has conceded this season, five of them (20.8 percent) have come directly off of a set piece by the opposition. The last two goals the team has allowed have come on free kicks, including SFU's game-winner last Saturday and the lone goal scored by Saint Martin's during a 4-1 triumph by the 'Jackets at home on Sept. 30. MSUB has not surrendered a goal off of a corner kick this season, despite allowing 55 (5.0 per game) which is the second-most in the GNAC.
 
Western Washington University Vikings
Thursday, Oct. 12 – 8 PM MTN – Bellingham, WA
2017 Record: 5-2-3, 4-0-1 GNAC
Form: W-W-W-W-D
Head Coach: Greg Brisbon, 5th season
2016 Record: 10-5-4, 6-3-3 GNAC (2nd place, NCAA Tournament 2nd Round)
 
Coming off a 0-0 double-overtime draw against Northwest Nazarene University last week, the Vikings extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches. WWU is the early leader in the conference standings with 13 points, having claimed a result in all five of its league games thus far.
 
The Vikings, who placed second in the GNAC and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last fall, will clash with reigning GNAC champion Simon Fraser University on Saturday after hosting the 'Jackets Thursday.
 
Anthony Dean is the top scorer in the GNAC entering this week, with eight goals and three assists for 19 total points. The 'Jackets will pay close attention to the senior, whose current two-match drought without a point is his longest of the season.
 
Seven other players have scored for WWU, which holds a plus-five goal differential (21 scored, 16 conceded). Stephen Jinneman and Christian Rotter are tied for second on the team with seven points apiece.
 
In goal, returning veteran Tyler Visten has played every minute of the season, and his goals-against average of 1.46 ranks third in the conference.
 
The Series: MSUB is 9-17-1 all-time against WWU, and holds a 5-11 record in away matches. The 'Jackets have won three of the last four meetings between the teams, and two of the last three games played in Bellingham.
 
Last Time Out: The teams split last season's matches, each claiming three points at home. MSUB won 3-1 in Billings on Oct. 13, and the Vikings returned the favor with a 2-0 triumph in Bellingham on Oct. 29.

Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders
Saturday, Oct. 14 – 3 PM MTN – Nampa, ID
2017 Record: 4-5-1, 1-3-1 GNAC
Form: L-W-L-L-D
Head Coach: Joel DeLass, 2nd season
2016 Record: 9-5-4, 6-3-3 GNAC (3rd place)
1st Meeting (Sept. 21 at Billings): MSUB 3, NNU 2
 
The Crusaders are riding out a tough stretch in their schedule, with just one win in their last six matches dating back to Sept. 16. NNU lost 3-1 at Simon Fraser last Thursday, before Saturday's scoreless draw against the Vikings.
 
The 'Saders will be fresh for Saturday's encounter with the 'Jackets, as it is their lone match of the week.
 
Michael Bryant leads the team with three goals, and Jake Levine and Raphael Junquiera have each scored twice for NNU. The Crusaders have scored just 13 times in 10 matches, which is tied for the fewest goals in the GNAC.
 
Edwin Quiroz, Linus Mansson, Jose Labanino-Ramos, and Daniel Brendel have been the most consistent players for second-year head coach Joel DeLass, with each of them starting all 10 games.
 
In goal, Jacob Hillyer has been the primary shot stopper with 594 minutes played in nine starts. Hillyer has made 28 saves and holds a 1.51 goals-against average. Cade Leatherman made one of his two starts on the year in goal the last time the 'Saders played the 'Jackets.
 
The Series: MSUB is 11-13-2 all-time against NNU and is 6-7 in matches played in Nampa. MSUB has won three of the last four, but NNU is 7-3-1 in the last 11 meetings dating back to the beginning of the 2012 season.
 
Last Time Out: The 'Jackets claimed a back-and-forth affair, responding to a pair of equalizers by NNU within three minutes each time to secure the win. Kremer had two goals in the 3-2 win for the 'Jackets on Sept. 21 at Yellowjacket Field, and Eli Williams scored his first career goal the last time the teams met. Junquiera and Levine had the goals for the Crusaders three weeks ago.