BISMARCK, N.D. – Defender Luca Battistotti netted the game-winning goal for the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team Saturday afternoon, scoring off a corner kick by Guillaume Kremer in the 104th minute to give the Yellowjackets a 2-1 upset win over No. 12 Upper Iowa University at the University of Mary Soccer Field.
 
The result was a fitting one for the Yellowjackets, who led 1-0 from the time JD Hauenstein scored his second goal of the year in the 39th minute until 20 seconds left in regulation. With the Peacocks' entire team pushed forward into the goal box, keeper Connor Rortvedt tossed a throw-in towards the scrum and Marko Cirko stunned MSUB with a last-second equalizer.
 
The 'Jackets kept their composure heading into extra time however, with two corner kicks and one shot in the opening period before Battistotti's game-winner kicked off a huge celebration.
 
"It was awesome for the guys and I am so happy for them," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "It took us a few minutes to get settled, but the next 40 minutes were the best that we played in a long time. We didn't rush, we moved the ball around, and created a lot of chances by playing the ball from side-to-side."
 
For the first time since Oct. 18, 2012, MSUB emerged victorious in an overtime match, as the 'Jackets snapped a 22-game winless streak (0-7-15) in overtime matches that lasted for nearly five years. MSUB picked up its second win in-a-row, and is now 2-4 overall on the season.
 
Keeping UIU under constant pressure during the match, MSUB out-shot the Peacocks 18-13 and placed 14 attempts on target. Rortvedt finished with a dozen saves to keep his team in the match, while MSUB goalkeeper Tom Lohmann matched his career high in saves with nine for the second straight game. "I am very proud of the boys, and after a rough start to the season, we responded the MSUB way – by sticking together as a team and continuing our hard work," said Lohmann. "It is a great feeling to finally get an OT win, and we are feeling good about going into GNAC play next week."
 
Yellowjacket center backs Realf Zhivanaj and Oliver Posarelli helped spark offensive chances from the back line, and Guillaume Kremer led the team with five shots including three on target. Junior Adam Hepburn was perhaps most influential of all during the match, commanding the game in the center of the pitch and winning the ball for the 'Jackets time and time again. "Adam played with so much heart, winning headers against guys a lot taller than him," Balog commented on the 5-foot-7 Hepburn. "He was absolutely instrumental for us to get this win. It is awesome to see a guy like that compete the way he did today."
 
Holding possession in the opening part of the match, MSUB claimed the lead just before halftime with a goal that was constructed out of the back. Zhivanaj and Battistotti connected the ball into the attacking third, where Guillaume Marneau flicked it forward to his left into the goal box. From there, Hauenstein calmly volleyed home a shot to the right of Rortvedt, making the score 1-0.
 
"The first half was ours, and we played down-field in the second, which invited Upper Iowa to play long balls," Balog commented on the flow of the game. "That was more difficult for us to deal with, but we created many more good chances in the second than we did in the first."
 
Part of MSUB's strong opening 45 minutes was a stellar save by Lohmann off the bat. Just three minutes into the match, the senior stopped a breakaway attempt by Ruairidh Crawford to prevent the 'Jackets from falling behind. From there, Lohmann made eight more stops throughout the game.
 
Rortvedt had a similarly impressive afternoon between the posts, making perhaps his best save of the day in the first overtime period. Kremer fired a shot towards the inside of the post in the 98th minute, and Rortvedt made a diving stop with his left hand to keep the score even for the time being.
 
The golden goal was a product of consecutive corner kicks, as Kremer's second service was on the money and Battistotti met it with his head to end the match.
 
THE BUZZ: Hepburn was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB's last overtime win was a 2-1 triumph over Western Washington during the 2012 season…the 'Jackets are 1-2 in overtime matches this year, with all three games being decided by the score of 2-1.
 
COMING UP: Conference play begins next week, as the Yellowjackets host Northwest Nazarene University on Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m. and Concordia University on Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. Live video and live statistics will be available for both matches through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.