BILLINGS, Mont. – Falling behind in the opening four minutes of play didn't deter the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team on Saturday, as the Yellowjackets scored the next three goals in a 3-1 triumph over Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe Concordia University at Yellowjacket Field.
 
The Cavaliers used a breakaway to net the first goal of the match in just the fourth minute, but MSUB responded with the first-career goal by senior Victor Sanchez two minutes later and never looked back.
 
JD Hauenstein and Realf Zhivanaj also had goals in the fourth straight victory for MSUB, which pulled its record even at 4-4 after beginning the season 0-4. The Yellowjackets are also off to a 2-0 start to

GNAC play. "I am happy with the way the guys reacted," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "We defended a lot of set pieces very well, and I am happy with how the team saw the game out."
 
Concordia fell to 1-4-1 with the loss, and is now 0-1 in league play in its debut conference match of the fall. Noah Swigart scored the lone goal for the 'Cavs, netting his second of the 2017 season.

Senior goalkeeper Tom Lohmann made seven saves for the 'Jackets, including a great stop on what wound up being the first goal of the game for the 'Cavs. Lohmann rushed forward to deflect a shot by CU's Nick Evans from point-blank range, but Swigart scooped up the rebound and scored into the vacated net.
 
Less than two minutes later, Sanchez started off the play that wound up with the ball in the back of the net by winning the ball in the midfield and feeding a pass out wide. Eli Williams took on a defender and played a low cross back into the box, where Sanchez kept his head over the ball on an outstanding volley finish from six yards away. "When we were down, it was important for us to turn the game around," said Sanchez. "I just crashed the box, and when I hit it the ball went in. It is a nice feeling to help contribute to the team."


 
Taking the lead on a set piece midway through the first half, the 'Jackets turned in a curling service from Guillaume Kremer into the second goal of the game. Luca Battistotti gained control of the ball on the far side of the box, before lifting a cross to Hauenstein who took care of the rest with a header into the back of the net.


 
Kremer had an excellent look on target from 22 yards away shortly thereafter, and CU goalkeeper Benoit Bouillant had to jump backwards to knock the strike over the crossbar. Bouillant finished with four saves in the game for the Cavaliers, while facing 10 shots and seven on frame. "We got after it, and today again we had a very strong game," said Kremer, one of MSUB's team captains. "This is very good for our confidence, and we needed it after the four losses at the beginning of the season."
 
Concordia's best chance to equalize in the opening half came with 10 minutes to play, when the 'Cavs earned a dangerous free kick at the top of the box. Lohmann came through for the 'Jackets with a diving save, followed by an immediate reactionary save on an ensuing shot.
 
With its first chance of the second half coming with 20 minutes left, Hauenstein just missed doubling his tally. Sanchez threaded a good pass into the box, but Hauenstein's clean look rolled just wide of the far post.
 
With 10 minutes to play, Kremer again came close to the back of the net, drilling a pass from Williams on target that Bouillant dove to push away. Two minutes later, MSUB put the match away first by winning a free kick deep on the left side of the field. Sanchez tracked down the initial cross from Niklas Schregel, and his high cross over the defense collided with Zhivanaj's head from five yards away for the third goal.


 
Swigart and Evans each had four shots for Concordia, which out-shot the 'Jackets 15-10 in the match. Kremer led MSUB with four shots, including three on target.
 
Battistotti, Zhivanaj, Oliver Posarelli, and Alexis Chavez each played a full 90 minutes on the back line for the 'Jackets, and Adam Hepburn turned in a solid 87-minute effort as a holding midfielder for the 'Jackets.
 
THE BUZZ: Sanchez was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for the 'Jackets…MSUB is now 3-0-2 all-time against Concordia and is 3-0 in games played in Billings…Saturday marked Williams' second straight game on the score sheet, after the senior scored his first career goal on Thursday…Zhivanaj's goal was his second header finish of the season
 
AHEAD: MSUB remains at home next week, hosting GNAC opponents Seattle Pacific University on Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m. and Saint Martin's University on Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. Both matches will feature live video and live statistics, available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.