BILLINGS, Mont. – Hosting three NCAA Division II teams in the fifth annual Rimrock Classic in memory of
Trevor Wildberger this weekend, the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team makes its 2018 home debut at Yellowjacket Field.
Games are scheduled for Friday and Sunday, with the tournament taking place in concurrence with the women's Rimrock Classic on Thursday and Saturday. Live video and live statistics will be available for all games of the tournament online through
MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.
The Yellowjackets (0-3) will square off against Colorado Christian University (0-1) on Friday at 4 p.m., and will challenge Sonoma State University (1-1) on Sunday at 4 p.m. The University of Mary (1-1) will also compete at the tournament, facing the other two teams as well.
2018 Rimrock Classic Men's Schedule
Friday, September 7
1 PM – Sonoma State vs. University of Mary
4 PM – MSU Billings vs. Colorado Christian
Sunday, September 9
1 PM – University of Mary vs. Colorado Christian
4 PM – MSU Billings vs. Sonoma State
"In years past we've been able to bring some of the best teams in our region to Billings, and this year is no different," said MSUB head coach
Alex Balog. "Sonoma State, Mary, Colorado Christian, and ourselves will be competing for what should be an exciting weekend. Hopefully our community will come out and support our student-athletes so we can honor Trevor and his family in the right way."
MSUB had a tough opening week in California, dropping three games in five days against a trio of west region opponents. The 2018 campaign started with a 1-0 double-overtime loss to No. 4 Cal Poly Pomona last Friday, before a 4-1 loss at Cal State San Bernardino Sunday and a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday.
CATCH COACH BALOG ON NEWSTALK 730 FRIDAY: MSUB head coach
Alex Balog will conduct an interview live on Newstalk Radio 730 AM on Friday morning in Billings to promote the weekend's matches. The sixth-year head coach will join host Scott Fredricks from 7:35-7:45 a.m., discussing his team's upcoming opponents and the history of an event that's now in its fifth year.
ABOUT THE RIMROCK CLASSIC: Dedicated to the memory of former Yellowjacket commit
Trevor Wildberger, the Rimrock Classic was established as a four-team event in 2014 and has been contested at Yellowjacket Field ever since. Last fall, the MSUB women's team hosted the event in conjunction with the men for the first time, making it a four-day, eight-game affair.
A goalkeeper from Rocklin, California, Wildberger lost a courageous battle with cancer before his scheduled arrival at MSUB in 2015. The Yellowjacket soccer teams have honored his legacy by placing 'TW26' signs on the bleachers and on the team benches at Yellowjacket Field, in recognition of his initials and jersey number. Wildberger's parents Jon and Tammy will be in Billings for this year's event, and will perform a ceremonial kickoff in honor of their son prior to MSUB's match on Friday.
"I am proud that we are able to host the Rimrock Classic in memory of
Trevor Wildberger for the fifth straight time, and second in conjunction with the women's soccer program," said Balog. "Our two soccer programs working together reflects what Trevor stands for: enthusiasm, passion, and love for the game, and courage to bring something to our community that hadn't been done before."
Senior Dana Kowachek has scored both of MSUB's goals this fall.
RHODIN NO STRANGER TO MSUB, CLASSIC: Senior goalkeeper
Ludvig Rhodin, who has started all three matches for the 'Jackets this fall, is new to the program but is playing in familiar territory. Suiting up for the University of Mary in his first three collegiate seasons, Rhodin has twice played in the Rimrock Classic (2015, 2016), and faced MSUB as opposition four times prior to this season.
Now keeping balls out of the net for the 'Jackets, the Hoganas, Sweden, native has gotten off to a solid start overall despite the team's 0-3 record. He recorded eight saves to keep the 'Jackets in it until the final minutes against Cal Poly Pomona, and then made four more each in the two most recent affairs. One of Rhodin's stops came on a penalty kick attempt in Tuesday's game against San Marcos, and his 16 total saves has him out to the early lead among Great Northwest Athletic Conference keepers.
KOWACHEK CLICKING UP TOP: Senior forward
Dana Kowachek has already doubled his goal total from last season, as he has found the net in each of MSUB's last two matches. His first goal of the year came on Sunday when he pulled the score against the Coyotes to 2-1 and gave the 'Jackets hope of a comeback attempt late in the second half. He then provided his side with a 1-0 halftime lead on Tuesday, timing his run perfectly on a set piece and flicking a header into the back of the net.
GUILLAUMES GALORE: Patrolling the midfield for the Yellowjackets has been a pair of similarly-named players in
Guillaume Kremer and
Guillaume Marneau. Kremer has started all three games and played all but two minutes, while Marneau has gotten the starting nod in each of the last two fixtures. The duo has also contributed offensively, with each providing an assist on a cross into the box with Kowachek on the other end. Marneau now has a pair of assists under his belt playing in his second season, while Kremer has a dozen helpers to rank him tied for No. 7 in MSUB history.
MSUB Men's Soccer All-Time Assists Leaders
| Rank |
Name |
Assists |
Seasons |
| 1. |
Chris Andre |
24 |
2007-10 |
| 2. |
Sam Charles |
18 |
2006-09 |
|
Thomas Chameraud |
18 |
2011-12 |
| 4. |
Scott Dixon |
17 |
2007-08 |
| 5. |
Julian Toenges |
16 |
2014-16 |
| 6. |
Thomas Pertuit |
14 |
2001-04 |
| 7. |
Kyle Emerick |
12 |
2011-14 |
|
Guillaume Kremer |
12 |
2016-18 |
| 9. |
Jarred Weisen |
11 |
2006-09 |
|
Jeremy DeHerrera |
11 |
2007-09 |
PALOMINO ON TARGET, LOOKING FOR GOAL: Senior forward
Ricardo Palomino will look to get on the score sheet this weekend, after shooting accurately but to no avail last week. Over his first three games, Palomino took six shots and placed four of them on frame to match Kowachek for the team lead in that category. Palomino has started all three matches and been on the pitch for 250 minutes thus far.
BEDROSIAN HEALTHY, IN STARTING LINEUP: After battling constant injury in his debut with MSUB in 2017, sophomore midfielder
Shantik Bedrosian has returned healthy and has started all three matches this fall. The 'Jackets will look for the crafty attacker to provide a boost in the offensive third.
After battling injury for the majority of 2017, sophomore Shantik Bedrosian has started all three matches this season.
Colorado Christian University Cougars
Friday, September 7 – 4 PM – Yellowjacket Field
2018 Record: 0-1
Head Coach: Gary Evans, 16th season
2017 Record: 1-14-3, 1-11-2 RMAC
Colorado Christian opened its 2018 season with a tough defeat on Sunday, falling 5-0 at the hands of Lubbock Christian University at home. The Cougars will also play the University of Mary on Sunday at 1 p.m., after their game against the Yellowjackets on Friday.
Blake Goodale, who led the team with eight points on four goals a season ago, returns as a senior this fall in the midfield. The Cougars lost their second-leading scorer in Eduard Shevchuk (three goals in 2017), but they'll look for an uptick in production from Larson Hanlin who had a pair of goals and three assists last fall as a sophomore.
Overall, CCU managed just 14 goals in its 19 games last year, while surrendering 46 en route to a last-place finish in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.
Defensively, CCU will look to rely on the combination of Luke Gibson, Jonah Mammen, and Alec Tanaka, who each played a full 90 minutes in the team's first match of the year.
Will Ford and Zach Roberts each played a half between the posts on Sunday, with the former returning to the lineup after 856 minutes last year and playing in nine matches.
This will mark CCU's second-ever appearance at the Rimrock Classic, after the team went 1-1 during the inaugural tournament in 2014.
The Series: One of the lengthiest non-conference series in program history, MSUB holds a dominant 9-3-1 all-time record against CCU. Games span back to MSUB's inaugural season in 1996, and in between 1999 and 2014 the Yellowjackets went 9-0-1 against the Cougars. CCU emerged a 1-0 victor in a 2014 match that carried to overtime at Yellowjacket Field, marking the last game between the teams. Overall MSUB is 6-1 against CCU in games played in Billings.
Last Time Out: Current MSUB assistant coach
Tom Lohmann made three saves in 102 minutes, but the Cougars claimed a
golden goal win in overtime four seasons ago.
Sonoma State University Seawolves
Sunday, September 9 – 4 PM – Yellowjacket Field
2018 Record: 1-1
Head Coach: Marcus Ziemer, 28th season
2017 Record: 7-7-2, 4-5-1 CCAA
Sonoma State opened its 2018 season against a pair of GNAC opponents, losing to Western Washington 4-3 in overtime before picking up a 2-1 win over Seattle Pacific last week. The Seawolves will challenge the University of Mary in the opening game of the tournament on Friday, before their game against the Yellowjackets on Sunday.
Sebastian Santos, who led the squad with nine points on four goals and an assist last fall, is back at it as he has already found the net twice for the Seawolves this season. Luis Mendoza was the team's leader with five assists a year ago, and he has matched Mendoza with a pair of finishes to start the 2018 campaign. Brian Field is SSU's other goal scorer this year, seeing the field for the first time as a collegiate player.
Though the Seawolves finished with an even .500 record last year, they maintained a positive goal margin at 23 scored against 21 allowed. Returning from the defensive unit in a key role is Devin Anderson, who saw time in 14 games last fall and played all 186 minutes on opening weekend among the back line.
Sidney Cunningham and Evan Roehrig also figure to be key fixtures in the midfield this season for Sonoma State. In goal, Arturo Ornelas played every minute in the first two matches. He replaces Mitch North, who started all 16 matches and carried a solid 1.29 goals-against average a season ago.
This will mark Sonoma State's first-ever appearance in the Rimrock Classic.
The Series: Sunday will be just the second meeting between the 'Jackets and Seawolves, and the first since the 2013 season. The teams fought to a 1-1 double-overtime draw in Rohnert Park, California the first time they met.
Last Time Out: SSU scored first but MSUB alumnus
Kyle Emerick potted an equalizer in the 85th minute as the 'Jackets salvaged a draw in the
only meeting between the sides.
Jon and Tammy Wildberger, parents of the late Trevor, walk to midfield with Sebastien Easton for a ceremonial kickoff at last year's Rimrock Classic.
