LACEY, Wash. – Evoking memory of his performance the last time the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team visited the Saint Martin's University soccer field, striker Brandon Madsen scored a hat trick for the second straight season against the Yellowjackets to lift the host Saints to a 4-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win Saturday afternoon.
 
Just like he did on November 2, 2017 against MSUB, Madsen netted three goals in the opening half as the Saints beat the 'Jackets for the second time this season. It was the fifth hat trick scored by a GNAC player this year, and it was the second of Madsen's career with the Saints as he has now scored six times against MSUB in two seasons.
 
The Yellowjackets lost their second straight game, falling to 7-9-2 overall and 4-6-1 in GNAC play with the defeat. "This was another hugely disappointing performance," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog, whose side had dug an insurmountable 3-0 hole by the 20th minute of play. "Credit to SMU for wanting it more than us, and for translating that into a deserving performance. Our team wasn't up for it today."
 
The Saints improved to 7-9 overall and 5-5 in GNAC play with their third win in the last five matches.
 
Freshman Andres Perez had his first career multi-goal performance, as he scored in the 34th and 84th minutes. He upped his season total to four goals, but the Saints dominated Saturday's game from start-to-finish.
 
Madsen set the tone just four minutes into the action, ripping home a shot off a corner kick and a pass from Oscar Aguilar. Before the 'Jackets could blink it was 2-0 in the 11th minute, when the same two players connected for a goal from five yards out.
 
Midway through the first, Jason Fairhurst netted a cross from Sebastian Navarro, as the Saints put the game out of reach early. Madsen completed his hat trick five minutes before halftime, as he took on MSUB goalkeeper Ludvig Rhodin in a one-on-one after a pass from Navarro.
 
Perez's first goal came in the 34th minute, as he beat SMU goalkeeper Griffin Small from five yards out on a cross from Adam Hepburn. It was one of just three shots the 'Jackets managed in the opening half, as the Saints held a commanding 11-3 lead in that department by the break.
 
MSUB improved its performance to open the second half, and wound up out-shooting the Saints 9-3 over the final 45 minutes. SMU was content to sit back and defend however, and snapped a two-game losing skid with the result.
 
Perez's final finish of the day came after he beat Small in the box and touched the ball into an open net. It was too late for hope of a comeback effort, as the 'Jackets dropped their final road contest of the season.
 
Samuele Folla, Guillaume Kremer, and Liam Knox joined Hepburn in playing the full 90 minutes for MSUB, and Perez led his team with four shots including three on target. Rhodin had one save in the match, while facing 14 shots including five on frame by the Saints.
 
Small came away with three saves for SMU, which racked up eight corner kicks while not conceding any to MSUB. Madsen became the fourth player in the GNAC to reach double figures in scoring on the season, as he upped his total to 10 goals.
 
THE BUZZ: Perez was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 13-9-2 all-time against SMU and is 5-6-1 in road matches…the assist was the third of the year for Hepburn…Perez now has nine points on the season, with one assist to go along with his four goals…the 'Jackets were without striker Ricardo Palomino, who was issued a red card in Thursday's 3-1 loss at Concordia.
 
NEXT UP: The 2018 season concludes at home next week, when the 'Jackets host No. 1 and GNAC champion Simon Fraser University. Kickoff next Saturday is scheduled for 3 p.m., and live video and live statistics will be available online through the MSUB Stretch Internet portal here.
   

Date	Location	H/A/N	Result	Score
9-16-07	Billings, MT	H	W	2-0
10-4-07	Lacey, WA	A	W	6-0
10-2-08	Billings, MT	H	W	2-1
11-8-08	Lacey, WA	A	L	4-2
9-26-09	Lacey, WA	A	W	1-0
10-29-09	Billings, MT	H	L (2 OT)	2-1
10-2-10	Billings, MT	H	L	2-0
10-21-10	Lacey, WA	A	W	2-0
9-15-11	Lacey, WA	A	L (OT)	2-1
10-15-11	Billings, MT	H	T (2 OT)	2-2
9-20-12	Billings, MT	H	W	3-0
10-13-12	Lacey, WA	A	W	3-1
9-26-13	Lacey, WA	A	L	2-1
10-17-13	Billings, MT	H	W	4-0
10-11-14	Lacey, WA	A	W	2-1
10-30-14	Billings, MT	H	W	2-0
10-10-15	Billings, MT	H	W	5-1
10-29-15	Lacey, WA	A	L	2-0
10-1-16	Lacey, WA	A	T (2 OT)	2-2
11-3-16	Billings, MT	H	W	7-1
9-30-17	Billings, MT	H	W	4-1
11-2-17	Lacey, WA	A	L	5-3
10-11-18	Billings, MT	H	L	3-2
10-27-18	Lacey, WA	A	L	4-2