MSUB SPORTS – Throughout a decade filled with bright spots, what stands out most about the Montana State University Billings men's soccer program during the 2010s is a team culture built on continuity and Yellowjacket pride.
 
Through three head coaches, each with their own philosophy, the pillars remained the same and a big reason for that was players' continued commitment to the team even after their playing careers concluded. The names appearing on the men's soccer all-decade team represent the top on-field talent from the decade. What is striking is how many of those names, as well as other players throughout the years, wound up continuing as assistant coaches in the program and further on in their professional lives.
 
"It has been a great honor to be part of this decade at MSUB," said current Yellowjacket head coach Thomas Chameraud. "In 10 years we have seen a lot of quality players who have played for the program. The most rewarding thing is all the relationships you create as a player and as a coach with players coming from different states and different countries. That is something really important to me. When I see former teammates sending me messages after a game, it is really rewarding and you think you've done something good here at MSUB."
 

Day	Release
Monday, August 31, 2020	Men's Soccer - Forwards
Tuesday, September 1, 2020	Men's Soccer - Midfielders
Wednesday, September 2, 2020	Men's Soccer - Defenders
Thursday, September 3, 2020	Men's Soccer - Goalkeepers
Friday, September 4, 2020	Men's Soccer - Full Team

 

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Team Composition
The men's soccer all-decade team features a realistic gameday roster of 18 players – 11 starters and seven reserves – as well as four honorable mention selections. The starting lineup features a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards. On the bench are three defenders, a midfielder, a forward, and a goalkeeper. Among the honorable mention selections are a pair of forwards, a defender, and a midfielder.
 

Position	Name	Playing Years
STARTING LINEUP
Goalkeeper	Tom Lohmann	2014-17
Left Back	Sam Butterworth	2012-15
Center Back	Conner Moe	2010-12
Center Back	Rhys Lambert	2014-16
Right Back	Luca Battistotti	2017-20
Holding Mid	Guillaume Kremer	2016-18
Holding Mid	Thomas Chameraud	2011-12
C.A. Mid	Shantik Bedrosian	2017-20
Winger	Julian Toenges	2014-16
Winger	Thomas Sheets	2010-12
Striker	Ricardo Palomino	2015-18
BENCH
Defender	Matt Brink	2011-14
Defender	Samuele Folla	2018-19
Forward	Kyle Emerick	2011-14
Goalkeeper	Eoin Hurley	2011-13
Defender	Cameron Lee	2012-15
Forward	Garion Holian	2008-11
Midfielder	Fernando Perez	2014-15
HONORABLE MENTION
Forward	Chris Andre	2007-10
Defender	Oliver Posarelli	2016-17
Midfielder	Niklas Schregel	2014-17
Forward	Julien Dragomir	2016

   

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The Starting Lineup
Tom Lohmann, a four-year starter for the Yellowjackets gets the nod in net, where he broke the school record with 204 saves from 2014-2017.
 
Playing directly in front of Lohmann are center backs Conner Moe (2010-2012) and Rhys Lambert (2014-2016). Moe's physical presence dominated the back line during his all-region career, and Lambert's passion for his side during his years as team captain was second-to-none.
 
On the flanks are a pair of savvy speedsters, equally adept at man-marking and pushing forward to contribute offensively. Sam Butterworth caused constant headaches for opponents from 2012-2015, using his crafty left foot to dish up 10 assists from his left back position. Luca Battistotti, a senior-to-be who earned his spot with three stellar seasons in the decade, is the active captain of the Yellowjacket squad.
 
In the midfield, a pair of Frenchmen and another current MSUB star form the triangle of talent. Current head coach Thomas Chameraud, who was a first-team all-region selection during his two-year career at MSUB, captains the all-decade squad just as he did during the team's finest year of the decade in 2012 (11-5-2). Guillaume Kremer, the set-piece king and passionate captain from 2016-2018, plays alongside Chameraud forming a dangerous holding midfield combination. And at the peak of the midfield unit, cited by his coaches as possibly the most skilled on-ball player of the decade, current Yellowjacket senior Shantik Bedrosian looks to seal his memorable career building off last year's first-team all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference nod.
 
The combination of speed and power comprise the all-decade team's offensive corps, with the top striker of the decade flanked by a pair of talented forwards. Ricardo Palomino, whose 27 goals are second-most in school history, is at the forefront of the offense after a memorable career highlighted by one-of-a-kind performances on the pitch. Many of Julian Toenges's 16 assists (fifth-most in school history) were placed onto the foot of Palomino, whom he joins in the all-decade Starting XI. Thomas Sheets was the top forward of the early years in the decade, scoring 16 goals and racking up 41 points in his three seasons from 2010-2012.
   

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The Reserves
Three defenders earned spots on the bench, each leaving his mark on the program in his own way. Most recently, Samuele Folla elegantly patrolled the defensive unit as he completed his two-year career as a center back with first-team all-GNAC honors last fall. Perhaps nobody had more passion in his chest for MSUB men's soccer than Cameron Lee, who captained the squad as a center back during his four-year career from 2012-2015.
 
"I look back at my time as captain and being there for many of the guys through struggles was something I took pride in. I am so proud of all four teams during my time in how we were all able to come together and make a difference in society around us. The value of trying to be the best human you can be every day makes an undeniable impact on those around you, and I am so lucky to have shared many experiences on and off the field with so many amazing dudes." – Cameron Lee.
 
The local duo of defender Matt Brink and forward Kyle Emerick also earned their way onto the bench with stellar four-year careers on the pitch. Each representing their home town and starting for four years for the Yellowjackets, Emerick and Brink were key figures in connecting the local community to the men's soccer program during their careers from 2011-2014 and beyond. "We had a great group of guys who looked after each other on and off the field. Everyone was very close, including the coaching and training staff. Four of my best friends were also teammates at MSUB." – Matt Brink.
 
Fernando Perez was never an all-conference selection as he closed out his college career at MSUB from 2014-15, but his coaches insisted that his presence on the field was one rarely matched as he flew under the radar in his central midfield role.
 
Two more early decade players whose names remain in the record books are also on the reserve unit, in forward Garion Holian and goalkeeper Eoin Hurley. Holian is in the top-10 in goals (19) and points (44), after being a go-to striker alongside Sheets from 2008-2011. Hurley's 12 shutouts remain as the school record, as he was a three-year starter in goal from 2011-2013.
 

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Top Seasons
MSUB's top finish as a team came in 2012, when the 'Jackets went 11-5-2 overall. Chameraud was the team's leader in goals (5), assists (11), and points (21), while co-captain Moe piloted a back line that gave up a decade-low 18 goals (1.0 goals per game).
 
"My final three years at MSUB were a transitional phase. The 2010 and 2011 seasons were a challenge, as we had a young team and we had to instill in them the work ethic and dedication needed for success. By 2012 we had a really strong group again. We went 11-5-2 and I would say we probably deserved better. The standout was our trip to Hawaii in 2012 when we won all three games." – Dan McNally, men's soccer head coach 2005-2012.
 
"My fourth week as a freshman provided me and the team to travel to Hawaii, where we won all three games and started the most successful season in program history," said Lee. "That is something I will forever be grateful for and cherish."
 
The 2016 campaign marked another notable season, as the Yellowjackets knocked on the door of a first-ever NCAA tournament berth climbing to as high as No. 6 in the regional rankings. The 'Jackets were in the conversation for the postseason as late as Oct. 26 that fall, and finished with a 9-6-3 overall record. The team scored 40 goals for an average of 2.22 per game that season, marking the top offensive performance of the decade as well as just the third 40-goal season in program history.

Read More: 'Jacket Men Jump To 6th In Latest NCAA West Region Poll
 

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Top Games/Moments
September 25, 2010 – MSUB 3 – 2 Western Washington (at Bellingham, WA) – Box Score | Recap
-Sheets and Andre each scored in a well-earned road win over GNAC rival WWU
 
October 8, 2011 – MSUB 3 – 2 Sioux Falls (2 OT) (at Bismarck, ND) – Box Score | Recap
-Isaac Kerr scored the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute off a free-kick assist from Chameraud
 
October 18, 2012 – MSUB 2 – 1 Western Washington (at Billings, MT) – Box Score | Recap
-Sheets scored a stunning game-winning goal from 30 yards out in the 96th minute
"My most memorable moment was scoring an upper-v shot in overtime against WWU, giving a much needed at home win against a conference opponent." – Thomas Sheets.
 
October 27, 2012 – MSUB 5 – 1 University of Mary (at Billings, MT) – Box Score| Recap
-Chameraud broke the school record with four assists and added a goal for a six-point game
-Emerick scored a hat trick – all on assists from Chameraud – and then returned the favor with an assist to the captain
 
September 27, 2014 – MSUB 1 – 0 Western Washington (at Bellingham, WA) – Box Score | Recap
-Lambert netted the game's only goal in the 70th minute – on a 70-yard assist from Lohmann
 
September 13, 2015 – MSUB 5 – 1 South Dakota Mines (at Billings, MT) – Box Score | Recap
-Palomino tied the school record with four goals – all in the first 51 minutes – to lift MSUB to a lopsided win
 


October 17, 2015 – MSUB 3 – 2 Concordia (at Billings, MT) – Box Score | Recap
-Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Palomino scored an incredible second-half hat-trick to lead MSUB to an improbable comeback win despite being down a man
 
"The best and most emotional game I was every part of was our win against CU on 'Kicks Cancer Day' in 2015. We were down 2-0 at halftime and were all embarrassed by our performance – especially because Trevor Wildberger's parents came all the way from California to watch us play after the passing of their son and our teammate Trevor. We got a red card five minutes into the second half and somehow pulled off a 3-2 win after Ricky scored three goals within 30 minutes. On top of that my dear friend Niklas Schregel unfortunately tore his ACL that game, so the emotions we all felt after the game were just not to describe and more than you normally feel within weeks, if not months. I think it's hard to have more emotions on a single day, but what stood out to me through this is how we were all in it together, were able to be ourselves, and how we supported each other. Only with relationships like these can you manage to build a program." – Tom Lohmann.
 
 

October 22, 2016 – MSUB 1 – 0 Seattle Pacific (at Billings, MT) – Box Score | Recap
-Niklas Schregel scored the game's only goal, helping MSUB improve to 8-4-3 overall and crack into the NCAA regional rankings
 


September 16, 2017 – MSUB 2 – 1 Upper Iowa (at Bismarck, ND) – Box Score | Recap
-Then-freshman Battistotti "came in like a bull" (Balog quote) in the 104th minute to head home a corner-kick cross from Kremer and send the 'Jackets to the late victory.
 
"I am a senior, but I still remember my first day like it was yesterday. It is hard to pick one memory because I have so many. For sure the goal I scored against Upper Iowa my freshman year in overtime is one of the best memories I have, but I have enjoyed and I am still enjoying every single moment at MSUB." – Luca Battistotti.
 
October 26, 2017 – MSUB 2 – 1 #9 Simon Fraser (at Billings, MT) – Box Score | Recap
-Still standing as MSUB's only program win over perennial powerhouse Simon Fraser, Kremer scored a masterful free kick in the 38th minute before Victor Sanchez delivered the most important goal of his career with the game-winner in the 52nd
-Lohmann had three saves in the match including No. 197 of his career, breaking the school's all-time record


 
October 18, 2018 – MSUB 4 – 2 Northwest Nazarene (at Nampa, ID) – Box Score | Recap
-Palomino scored his final career goals by way of his third-career hat trick, capping the second-highest goal-scoring career in MSUB history
"How committed the coaching staff was, and how helpful they were inside and outside the field. Everyone was working with the same goal in mind." – Ricardo Palomino when asked what stood out to him about the MSUB team he was on.
 
October 12, 2019 – MSUB 1 – 0 Seattle Pacific (at Seattle, WA) – Box Score | Recap
-Bedrosian delivered the game's only goal with a 79th-minute penalty kick conversion to lift the team to a big GNAC road win
 
"There is no singular moment that stands out, as every day was a blessing to walk out onto Yellowjacket Field and represent the colours of MSUB." – Cameron Lee.
 

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From Player to Coach
One of the continuing themes throughout the decade was players getting a start on their coaching careers immediately after concluding their careers on the field. At the forefront of this cast is Chameraud, who was involved in the program for nine years during the decade and worked his way up from the pitch to his current position as head coach. Numerous other players followed in a similar fashion.
 
"During the decade we have seen many players who took the step from player to coach, which shows as a staff that we must have had an impact on them," Chameraud said. "They showed the ambition to stay in soccer and make it their job. We also give the opportunity to many alumni to start at MSUB by being a GA or assistant to gain experience."
 
"I think it shows that we were able to show them that coaching is about trying to win games and be as competitive as we possibly could, but it is also about creating a setting for people to be part of the program themselves," said Alex Balog, MSUB's head coach from 2013-2018. "We were trying to develop a program that was truly holistic and multi-faceted. The guys who went on to coach for us bought into that."
 

Name	Playing Years	Coaching Years	Title
Conner Moe	2010-2012	2014	Graduate Assistant
Tom Lohmann	2014-2017	2018-2019	Graduate Assistant
Thomas Chameraud	2011-2012	2013-Current	Assistant Coach; Head Coach
Kyle Emerick	2011-2014	2015-2017	Volunteer Assistant Coach
Fernando Perez	2014-2015	2016-2017	Volunteer Assistant Coach
Tyler Moriarty	2008-2011	2013	Assistant Coach
Guido Riffeser	2015	2016	Graduate Assistant
Tom Saltwell	2012-2015	2017	Volunteer Assistant Coach

 
"I would like to think I passed on my passion for soccer. I think I instilled a sense that we could win games and beat anybody. I hope my players realized what the team always meant to me. I gave everything I had for

them and the university." – Dan McNally.
 
"I owe everything to the people at MSU Billings for providing me with my very first collegiate coaching position back in 2014-15. Dan McNally, Alex Balog, Thomas Chameraud, Adam Spinelli, Conner Moe, and countless others helped inspire me to give back to others using the game as a vehicle for education and success. I still ask them for advice to this day and see them as lifelong mentors. I learned that you needed to "crawl before you can run" at MSU Billings, which has also helped mold my general philosophies as a coach." – Kyle Emerick.
 
"MSUB allowed me to pursue a career in coaching, something I had never imagined before my time in Billings. I am so grateful for the opportunity I was given to be an assistant coach for MSUB and to learn from Alex Balog and Thomas Chameraud. I am still coaching and playing soccer thanks to my experience from MSUB. My degree from MSUB has provided a foundation for my future career goals in teaching." – Conner Moe.
 

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Family, Near And Far
 
One of the most diverse programs among any college sport in the country, MSUB's men's soccer team featured players from 18 different countries and 14 different states within the U.S. throughout the decade. A function of this far-reaching recruiting strategy was the program's three international head coaches over the years, with McNally hailing from England, Balog from Belgium, and Chameraud from France.
 
"My fondest memories are the good times that I shared with my teammates and the lifelong friendships I made there. The thing that stood out most about my team was the diversity of our roster. We had many different nationalities go through my team, and we had an extremely tight bond through the good times and the tough times." – Thomas Sheets.
 
"MSUB and my time in Montana meant that I moved halfway across the world and was away from my family. All the staff at the MSUB athletic department became family as well as all the local families that were involved and supporting us. One never knows what to expect when embarking on a new journey in life, but Montana has left its mark on me and will forever be my home. I love everything about the place and the people. Big love to you all." – Cameron Lee.
 
"The MSUB experience has completely changed my life. I come from a different country, and being here so far from my family helped me change as a person. I am way more mature than when I first came here, and it has opened my mind to new things. I am very thankful to MSUB for giving me this opportunity." – Luca Battistotti.
 
"No one was left in the dark. If someone ever had a problem or issue, they always had support around them. We stuck together as a team through thick and thin – on and off the field." – Sam Butterworth.
 
"We were such a close-knit group, and fought for each other every second of every game. With so many international players away from home, we became a family on and off the field." – Eoin Hurley.
 
"What immediately stuck out to me as an incoming freshman at MSU Billings was the unique leadership and mixed diversity that encompassed our team from 2011-2014. We came from places all over the world but still looked after each other like brothers on and off the pitch." – Kyle Emerick.  
 
"No matter what different backgrounds we were all from or what different characters we all had, when it counted we were always there for each other. Especially during my first years, I loved to be on a team with the mindset "us against the world" and the consistent improvements we made each year." – Tom Lohmann.
 
"MSUB allowed me to make lifelong friendships with people from all over the world. I still speak to my old teammates regularly and look forward to alumni games." – Conner Moe.
 
"I have become a much more humble and relaxed person. I had great and encouraging relationships with both Dan McNally and Alex Balog, that helped me mature as an individual. I am much more open to being vulnerable and enjoy trying new things. I think that only comes with being around thoughtful people from various backgrounds. I had an amazing time at MSUB with my teammates, coaches, and family." – Matt Brink.
 

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Beyond the Pitch
The MSUB men's soccer program has made a point of giving back to the local community, and has displayed a dedication to service throughout the decade. Most notably among this service is the program's partnership with Team IMPACT to adopt Sebastien Easton onto the roster and support him throughout his battle with cancer.
 
Sebastien joined the team in the fall of 2014, when he was six years old and enduring a trying battle with cancer. Then-captain Lambert took the lead in welcoming Sebastien into the team, greeting him at his first practice and introducing him to each of the players. Seven years later, Sebastien remains a constant presence on the squad, regularly attending matches and sporting his lucky No. 13 jersey on the sidelines. He has been featured as a National Anthem performer, as well as a special guest for ceremonial kickoffs as well.


 
While Sebastien has provided incalculable inspiration and fortitude throughout the majority of the decade, the Yellowjacket program also endured a painful loss when 2014 letter of intent signing Trevor Wildberger lost his battle with cancer. A goalkeeper, the No. 26 jersey that Trevor was slated to wear has been informally retired, and he maintains his spot on MSUB's roster each season. The annual Rimrock Classic tournament, hosted each fall by MSUB, has been renamed in his memory and his parents John and Tammy make the trip from Rocklin, California each year to take part in the ceremony honoring their late son.
 
"I am proud to have been a part of a program that meant much more than wins and losses on the field; it was always about people. Having the opportunity to meet the Easton family was life-changing and his influence continues to inspire me to this day. I am incredibly proud of our team and how everyone welcomed him with open arms. Sebastian gave more to me than he will ever know." – Kyle Emerick.
 
"I'm very appreciative of my time at MSUB, and I've experienced things and gained life lessons that I don't think I could have received anywhere else. I am very grateful for my college experience." – Thomas Sheets.
   

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Looking Ahead to the 2020s
 
"My favorite moment as a head coach so far was our first conference win last year against NNU," Chameraud said. "We started to see something from our philosophy as a coaching staff, and it was rewarding."
 
The next decade of Yellowjacket soccer is already off to a unique start, with the coronavirus pandemic postponing the fall 2020 season. Whenever the official first season of the new decade kicks off – whether it be this spring or next fall – the next 10 years of MSUB soccer figure to be filled with a brand new cast of memorable players, exciting matches, and the carrying on of a legacy that has only grown in strength over time.
 
"I am most proud that I left the program in better shape than when I got there. Coach Balog recruited me with his vision to build the soccer program from scratch, and looking back now everyone can see what an outstanding job everyone did and I am proud I played a small part in it. Leaving this spring was not easy for me but I know there is a solid foundation now and the best is yet to come for the program and Coach Chameraud." – Tom Lohmann.
 
"If you could cut me open, you will see that I bleed blue and gold." – Cameron Lee.
   

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About the All-Decade Project
The top student-athletes from each of Montana State University Billings' current varsity athletic teams from 2010-2019 have been selected, and 14 all-decade teams will be revealed throughout the course of the fall of 2020. Each sport's all-decade team is comprised of the top-performing student-athletes, with weight given to individual athletic achievement and accolades, team achievement, academic achievement, as well as community service. For more information on MSUB's all-decade project, and to view each sport's all-decade teams, view the all-decade project webpage online here.