BILLINGS, Mont. – A win over Western Washington University this Thursday at Yellowjacket Field would put Montana State University Billings men's soccer in a tie for first place as they head into the stretch run of the 2019 season. In fact, the 'Jackets have two opportunities in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this week with WWU Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and Northwest Nazarene coming to town Saturday, October 26 at 3 p.m. Saturday's game is also MSUB kicks cancer day.
 
CURRENT FORM: MSU Billings (6-4-2, 3-1-1 GNAC) is 3-1-1 in the month of October with seven remaining regular season contests, including five at Yellowjacket Field. Andrez Perez leads the squad with 12 points (4 goals, 4 assists), despite just five starts. Shantik Bedrosian, Theo Lamare, and Christian Thode have three goals apiece, and the Yellowjacket back line has received a steady dosage of shut down defense from veterans Luca Battisotti and Samuele Folla. The team is one win away from tying its 4-win conference mark one year ago and in the process of improving a 7-10-2 (4-7-1 GNAC) record in 2018. Goalkeeper Jessy Martin leads the league with 62 saves and holds a 1.12 goals against average and .816 save percentage with three shutouts.
 
Both home games this week will have live statistics and video available via MSUB's Stretch Internet Portal. Fans can purchase tickets at the gate for $5 and students and staff are free with a valid MSUB ID.
 
Scouting Western Washington University
Thursday, October 24 – 3:30 p.m. – Yellowjacket Field – Billings, Montana
2019 Record: 7-3-1, 4-0-1 GNAC, 3-2-1 home, 4-1-0 away, 0-0-0 neutral
2018 record: 11-6-1, 7-4-1 GNAC, 6-2-0 home, 5-4-1 away, 0-0-0 neutral
Head Coach: Greg Brisbon (7^th season)
 
The only undefeated team left in the GNAC, the Vikings have won or tied every contest since a 2-1 overtime loss to No. 3 Azusa Pacific on September 26. It has been 310 minutes since WWU last surrendered a goal, resulting in three straight shutouts. MSUB tied WWU 1-1 in Billings last season and defeated the Vikings on the road 2-1.
 
Senior forward Ryan Shaefer shares the team lead in points with junior midfielder Drew Farnsworth. Each of them have 10 points, though Shaefer has the most goals with five.
 
Western Washington generates the second most shots in the league (14.64 per game), which has translated into 20 goals through 11 games. WWU and MSUB are tied for the most shutouts this fall with four apiece, though WWU holds the slight edge in goals against average.
 
The Vikings lead the GNAC with 74 corner kick chances, four in front of Saint Martin's and 12 ahead of MSUB. WWU draws few cautions and leads the GNAC with 11 yellow cards issued.
 
Scouting Northwest Nazarene
Saturday, October 26 – 3 p.m. – Yellowjacket Field – Billings, Montana
2019 Record: 4-7-0, 0-5-0 GNAC, 1-4-0 home, 3-3-0 away, 0-0-0 neutral
2018 record: 3-14-1, 3-9-0 GNAC, 1-7-0 home, 2-7-0 away, 0-0-1 neutral
Head Coach: Adam Pearce (1^st season)
 
The Nighthawks have lost each of their last five games dating back to a 1-0 loss to MSU Billings on October 3. NNU has been outscored 12-4 along the way, with their most recent defeat last Saturday to Western Washington 3-0 at home. Despite the tough stretch, NNU's offense has been productive with 15 goals in 11 games. Junior forward Jake Levine leads the Nighthawks five goals and 12 points, including back-to-back multi-goal games in September. In just eight games, the Green Acres, Washington native is just three points shy of his 15 point total last season and already has the same number of goals.
 
Defender Lorenzo Valentini (Saarbrucken, Germany) made an impressive freshman debut and contributed four goals and one assist to the offensive effort. Valentini has played every minute of every game this fall for the Nighthawks, totaling 998 minutes on the pitch.
 
The 'Jackets beat NNU's Alex Nadermann one time in Nampa. The sophomore goalkeeper holds a 1.73 goals against average and .639 save percentage through eight starts. Backup keeper Sawyer Price stands an outside chance to find the field with four games played and three starts.
 
On a per-game basis in the GNAC, Northwest Nazarene ranks sixth in goals scored (1.36), fifth in goals allowed (2.00), third in shutouts (0.27), fifth in corners (4.18), and fifth in yellow cards (1.73).
 
Theo Lamare scored the winning goal against NNU on September 3. Lamare received a pass from Yaniss Aka and broke away after a failed corner by the Nighthawks in the 52^nd minute. Last season, the 'Jackets split the season series with NNU 1-1. Both game scores were 4-2.