BILLINGS, Mont. – Looking to build on the theme of success over the past three seasons, the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team kicks off the 2018 regular season this week.
 
The Yellowjackets, who have gone 26-22-7 since the start of the 2015 year, will face an immediate test with three games against west-region opponents in the first five days of the season. The first match of the season, this Friday at 8 p.m. Mountain time, is against No. 4 Cal Poly Pomona which is coming off its second NCAA Division II Final Four appearance in the last three seasons.
 
MSUB will then play Cal State San Bernardino on Sunday at 3 p.m. Mountain time, and Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Mountain time to complete the eventful early season trip. "I believe we have put together one of the most challenging schedules in Division II," commented sixth-year head coach Alex Balog. "If we want to achieve something special this year, then we have to set it up that way. The start of the season is going to be very important, and it should help us hit the ground running when it comes to conference play."

The 'Jackets, who went 9-10 overall in 2017 and tied for third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference at 6-6 in league play, were selected to finish third in the GNAC preseason coaches poll released last week. After this week's trip to California, MSUB will play home matches against Colorado Christian University and Sonoma State University in the Fifth Annual Rimrock Classic in Memory of Trevor Wildberger. The team will then face Oklahoma Baptist University and the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, before the 12-game GNAC schedule begins Sept. 20 at No. 20 Simon Fraser University.
 
"We have been picked third in the preseason poll, but we would like to do better than that," said Balog, the reigning GNAC co-Coach of the Year. "We want to challenge the perennial powers in this conference. We feel like we have a more balanced squad than last year, and we have set up our preseason in a way that will hopefully keep us fresh throughout the year."
 
A major emphasis for MSUB this fall will be defense, after the team ranked second-to-last with 42 goals allowed in 19 games (2.21 per game) in 2017. The 'Jackets still managed to stay afloat by tying for second in the league with 36 goals scored, but moving their margin into black ink will be paramount to a successful 2018 campaign. "One of our big goals this season is to concede less goals than in the past," Balog said. "We feel like we have brought in enough quality defensively to achieve that, and I don't see why we can't achieve that."
 
The defensive unit starts with returning captain Luca Battistotti, who started 18 matches and ranked third on the team with 1,473 minutes played as a true freshman in 2017. The Italian's versatility – he can play any of the defensive positions – as well as his ability to push forward evidenced by a goal and three assists last year, will make him a staple of the defensive unit. "Luca has made the right-back spot his own, but he can play across all four defensive positions," said Balog. "What we are getting from him right now is not something you often see from sophomores, as he is emerging as a true leader. His offensive qualities, technical skills, and ability to recognize certain situations in a game are all things we are going to rely on as well."
 
Surrounding the lone returning defensive starter will be a promising cast of new faces. Junior and fellow countryman Samuele Folla figures to slot in as a center back, with a solid 6-foot-2 frame making him a dominant aerial presence. Freshman Pascal Pisarek also figures to mix in at the center back position, along with sophomore Callan Martin who sat out last season as a redshirt. Junior Liam Knox, sophomore Hussain Al Haifi, and freshman Bryan Maxwell will all play minutes on the defensive unit as well.
 
"We have a lot of new players defensively and it's going to be a new back line, but there is a lot of quality there," Balog said. "Our decision making has been better (in the preseason) and we are not turning the ball over as much, which is something we need to improve on. We gave it up in a lot of dangerous situations last year."
 
Though the task of replacing MSUB career saves leader Tom Lohmann in goal was not an easy one, the 'Jackets landed a highly skilled and experienced collegiate veteran in senior Ludvig Rhodin. A three-year starter at fellow Division II school University of Mary, Rhodin has logged seven career shutouts and has made 203 career saves. "We will be relying on Ludvig's experience, as he has played in the GNAC already," Balog commented referencing Mary's membership in the conference in the 2015 season. "He knows our opponents and our region, and he had a good career at Mary." 

Along with Rhodin are a pair of freshmen between the posts, in Dalton Mauzay and Aleksandar Garza. The duo will compete for minutes in the backup capacity and will work with the experienced veteran to build strength at the collegiate level.
 
MSUB's top player from 2017 is back for his final season, as senior captain Guillaume Kremer will once again pilot the team through the midfield. The Frenchman was a United Soccer Coaches all-region selection last year, after earning first-team all-GNAC honors and leading the team with nine goals, five assists, and 1,703 minutes played. "Guillaume is the beating heart of the team, and as a third-year captain I know he is hungry for his senior season," Balog said. "He wants to help write a little piece of history for MSUB athletics, and I know he is going to push us to win the GNAC and go to the NCAA tournament."
 
Kremer headlines an experienced midfield unit, that also features fourth-year player Adam Hepburn. The Huntington Beach, California, native has seen time in 44 matches in his three seasons, and started 10 games a year ago. Juniors Sam Phillips and Christian Thode, and sophomore Guillaume Marneau are also back in the midfield. "Those are all players who are going to see the field quite a bit, and who will rotate in the middle," Balog said. "Adam is going to want to do something special his senior season, and each of the other guys had a good first year with us."
 
Offensively the team will build around the fourth-leading scorer in MSUB history in senior Ricardo Palomino. The Puebla, Mexico, native was an all-region selection in 2015, when he led the west region with 16 goals. Though he had six more in 2016 and ranks No. 7 in GNAC history with 1.44 points per game, his would-be senior campaign in 2017 was cut short due to injury. "Ricardo definitely has his eyes set on a double-digit scoring season, and he wants to prove that his sophomore year was not a one-off," Balog commented on the 2015 GNAC Newcomer of the Year. "He is the type of player who you might not see for 85 minutes, then all of a sudden the ball is in the back of the net. I feel confident he is going to have a big season."
 
MSUB will look for senior Dana Kowachek to contribute on the offensive end as well, after he scored one goal in his debut with the 'Jackets last fall. Shantik Bedrosian was limited to just 631 minutes due to an injury last year, but is another key returner who should help carry the offensive unit. With two years of experience under his belt, Guatemalan Ignacio Crespo will also look for an increase in field time. "Shant, Dana, and Nacho all have experience and know what D2 soccer is about," said Balog. "We are going to rely on all of them for substantial minutes in the attacking third."
 
One of the bright spots of MSUB's preseason was the emergence of freshman Marvin Putu, who will complement Palomino well on the flank. The Melun, France, native is joined by fellow newcomers Austin Shafer, Brady Tesch, and Andres Perez who will all fight for minutes. "With Marvin we have a true left winger, and somebody who is going to go down the line and whip the ball in with his left foot," Balog said. "He is fast, and his technical ability is a luxury for us. Our newcomers Austin, Brady, and Andres have come in and left a good impression after the preseason, and they will be looking to get minutes as well."
 
Returning to MSUB's coaching staff for the fifth season is associate head coach Thomas Chameraud. The former all-region midfielder for the Yellowjackets will be joined on the staff by first-year coaches Tom Lohmann and Scott Forster, and Fernando Perez who is back for his third year on the sidelines. "Thomas has done a lot of the ground work, and his ability to read the game as it is going is something we need very much throughout the season," said Balog. "Tom is our goalkeeping expert, and he has been involved in all facets of the program during his four years with us. With Scott, we are getting someone who has the ability to recognize talent very well and who will bring an outside perspective into our program."
 
The 'Jackets are maintaining their partnership with Team IMPACT, as 10-year-old Sebastien Easton begins his fifth season as a member of the squad. After joining the team in 2014 as a six-year-old, Sebastien will continue to frequent the bench area during games and regularly attend training sessions and team activities. "We are ecstatic to see Sebastien's growth and development over the past four years, and we know he is excited to be on the bench with us again," Balog said. "His responsibilities are growing now as he gets older, and he is becoming more of a teammate and less of a fan."
 
The GNAC portion of the Yellowjackets' schedule features six home and six road matches, and runs Sept. 20-Nov. 3. The winner of the GNAC regular season title earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II west region playoffs, which are scheduled for Nov. 8-11.
 
All home matches and select road contests will feature live video and live statistics, available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.