BILLINGS, Mont. – Amid ice-cold rain and near-freezing temperatures at Yellowjacket Field on Saturday afternoon, the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team battled No. 14 Seattle Pacific University to a 1-1, double-overtime draw in the return of Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.
 
With their backs against the wall trailing 1-0 and less than eight minutes left in the match, the Yellowjackets found an equalizer off the head of Mathias Kjølner. The second-year freshman's first-career goal came directly off a corner-kick service from Marvin Putu, as he positioned himself around his defender and nodded home the goal into an open net. "Overall this was a really good performance," said MSUB head coach Thomas Chameraud. "We didn't get the win, but I think the tie is a fair score."
 
In an otherwise very well-played aerial match from SPU goalkeeper Lars Helleren, the veteran overran Putu's cross on the corner kick which left room for Kjølner's soft header to trickle into the net. The Falcon shot stopper helped his team earn the draw with six saves and multiple collections of high crosses into the box throughout the match.


 
Making his second start of the year, Connor Trapp had four stops in goal for the 'Jackets in a solid 110-minute performance. Senior captain Luca Battistotti turned in a commanding 110-minute effort at center back, as did junior Bryan Maxwell to help lead one of the team's top defensive performances of the year. "We talked with the guys during our two-week break about how we need to concede fewer goals and be stronger defensively," said Chameraud. "Conceding just one goal against one of the best teams in the country is definitely a performance. Overall the back line did a fabulous job, and shoutout to Connor as well who had a good performance in goal."
 
MSUB improved to 3-7-2 overall and is now 1-4-1 in conference play. The Falcons meanwhile moved to 10-2-1 overall and are 4-1-1 in league play after the draw. "It was a difficult game for both teams with the weather conditions, but I thought it was a very good D2 game," said Chameraud. "It was a real battle between two good teams that try to play on the ground, and try to play good soccer. The two goals came off set pieces, and I really love the reaction from our guys being down 1-0."
 
Jose Benavides scored his first goal of the year to put SPU ahead in the 62nd minute. The Falcon defender pushed forward into the box on a dangerous free kick from the left side of the field, and managed to redirect a cross from Nik Reierson just under the crossbar from within an unguarded six-yard box.

The Yellowjackets refused to give in after conceding the goal, producing all four of their second-half shot attempts after falling behind 1-0. "We have been working all week on being able to come back from behind, and we did it today," said Chameraud. "It was really rewarding, and the work that we did this week paid off today."
 
Neither side had a clear cut scoring opportunity during the 20 minutes of overtime play, as each settled for a draw to kick off the second half of conference play after last being on the pitch on Oct. 16. "This is a very good game to build on for the next four games," Chameraud said. "SFU and Western Washington are coming to town next week which will be two tough games for us, but after this game we are going to have some confidence."
 
A match that featured the top two goal scorers in the conference – Alex Mejia of SPU (12 goals) and Halil Yilmaz of MSUB (nine goals) – saw the two lethal strikers kept quiet. Mejia's lone on-target attempt of the match wound up being a dodged bullet for the 'Jackets, as Trapp easily handled his shot towards the center of the goal while a wide-open Falcon attacker was hoping for a pass near the far post.
 
Yilmaz meanwhile led all players in the match with four shots including three on target, while contributing a solid 91 minutes. Tybalt Thornberry was a difference-maker in 100 minutes on the pitch, and Oscar Salling made his presence known on the back line before subbing out after 64 strong minutes in his start.
 
The Falcons won eight corner kicks compared to five for MSUB, and while the visitors out-shot the 'Jackets 17-13 MSUB put seven shots on frame compared to five for SPU.
 
UNITY MATCH: Saturday represented MSUB's Unity Game, as both the Yellowjackets and Falcons joined together to support the battle to end racism. Both teams warmed up wearing Unity shirts, and recognized the event by reading the GNAC Student-Athlete Unity Pledge prior to kickoff.
 
 
THE BUZZ: Battistotti was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…the senior made the 69th appearance of his MSUB career, moving into a tie for sixth-place on the all-time games played leaderboard…the Falcons narrowly claimed the season series, after a 4-3 overtime win over MSUB on Oct. 2 in Seattle…MSUB is now 7-20-6 overall and 4-13-4 in matches played in Billings…Putu's assist was his fifth of the season, moving him into a tie for most in the GNAC with SPU's Tyler Speer.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets remain home next week, for conference matches against Western Washington on Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. and Simon Fraser on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m., the latter of which will be the team's Senior Day. Live coverage for next week's games will be available online here.