BILLINGS, Mont. – Under the guidance of first-year head coach Aaron Champenoy, the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team kicks off its 2022 season at home on Thursday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.
 
With 11 returners and 11 newcomers formulating this season's roster, the Yellowjackets will be eager to jump into their 17-game slate of games. "The group is really looking forward to being back out on the field and trying to raise our expectations and standards," said Champenoy. "There is a lot of talent within this group, and now we are trying to maximize that talent and play within our strengths. We want to step onto the pitch every week with the mentality that we are going to win every game."
 
7th annual Rimrock Classic in memory of Trevor Wildberger – Tournament Schedule
Thursday, September 1
1:30 p.m. – MSU Billings vs. Colorado State-Pueblo
4 p.m. – Northwest Nazarene vs. UC Colorado Springs
 
Saturday, September 3
1 p.m. – Colorado State Pueblo vs. Northwest Nazarene
3:30 p.m. – MSU Billings vs. UC Colorado Springs
 
After this week's non-conference games, MSUB will take on Colorado Mesa University and Fort Lewis College next week, and will have a final tune up against South Dakota Mines on Sept. 14 before beginning the 12-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule on Sept. 22 at home against Simon Fraser University.
 
Junior midfielder Jeremie Briquet is the returning all-conference selection in the Yellowjacket lineup this year, after ranking third in the conference with four assists throughout the 2021 season. Briquet saw minutes in 12 matches while starting six in his first season in the program, and will be a key player the 'Jackets build around offensively this season. "Jeremie is extremely talented and has a great balance of size, athleticism, and technical ability," said Champenoy. "He will definitely be one of our key attacking midfield players, and if we are going to have a good season he is going to be a big part of it."
 
Fifth-year seniors Bryan Maxwell and Pascal Pisarek will captain the squad, being the most experienced returners to the Yellowjacket lineup. Maxwell played in all 16 matches on the back line, with his 1,470 minutes leading the squad during the 2021 season. Overall in his four-year career, Maxwell has started 42 matches while scoring four goals and racking up 4,032 minutes on the defensive unit. "Bryan is unassumingly good, and has been a huge part of this program for the last four years," said Champenoy. "He leads by example, takes on his responsibilities, and is a very good player."
 
Pisarek meanwhile has played in 42 matches while starting 27, and has scored three goals while totaling 2,652 minutes in his MSUB career. Pisarek played in all 16 matches last fall and earned 12 starts playing primarily as an outside back. "Pascal is a natural leader for the team," said Champenoy. "As a fifth year he has been through it all, and he is helping lead the way this year with our other seniors."
 
Further bolstering the defense this fall will be second-year Yellowjacket Guillermo Gonzalez, who is projected to play heavy minutes at center back after missing the entire 2021 season with an injury. "He is a very skillful center back who is very composed on the ball," Champenoy said on the Spaniard. "He possesses very good decision making and will be a key part of a strong defensive line."
 
MSUB's other upperclassman returning to the roster is Edgar Ramirez, who will begin his senior campaign after playing in 14 games and scoring a pair of goals through his first two years as a Yellowjacket. "Edgar has a lot of 1v1 technical ability and is good in tight spaces," said Champenoy. "He is part of a good senior leadership group and has been very helpful in showing the newcomers what our expectations are."
 
While he's new to the program this fall, senior Matthew Wilkinson brings a wealth of collegiate experience to MSUB's back line after transferring from University of Providence. Wilkinson figures to help anchor the center back position, at the outset of his fifth season of college soccer. "Matt has been a great addition to the squad," Champenoy said. "Not only does he add maturity and leadership, but a physical presence at the center back position. He is a vocal leader."
 
Much of the Yellowjackets' returning experience lays within its sophomore class, 6 of 8 of which are back on the roster from a season ago. While MSUB will miss the services of Ty Vohland, who is sidelined with an injury, Valdemar Fogt, Jack Jarrett, and Ryan Hanley are all back and will look to contribute on the offensive side of the ball.
 
Fogt scored his first goal as a 'Jacket against Western Washington last fall, while playing in 11 matches and earning five starts in the midfield. Jarrett earned minutes in eight games with one start, and Hanley played in a dozen matches while starting four times in his true freshman campaign. "Valdemar is coming into his own at MSUB after last year being a transition year," Champenoy said on the 2021 Bowling Green State transfer. "He has a high understanding of the game, and has started to show he can be a leader on this team. Ryan is a very creative and crafty player who will cause defenses problems, and I would expect him to be a big part of goals and assists coming off the wing. Jack plays with a ton of passion, has a really high work rate, and has very good athleticism and 1v1 capabilities."
 
Also returning are Roddy Lewis and Kolten Unrein, who will each figure to see an accelerated role this fall. "Kolten is really hard-working and athletic, and he is a good shot stopper who has improved throughout the preseason," Champenoy said on the fourth-year goalkeeper. "Roddy is a blue-collar kind of player who can play multiple positions for us. He is a really good teammate and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team."
 
Junior goalkeeper Jeremi Campagnolo is projected to see major minutes between the posts this fall, after beginning his collegiate career at Campbellsville University where he helped the team to an NCCAA national title in 2021. Campagnolo played in all 21 games last year and made 72 saves. "Jeremi has a good presence as far as leading the back line and a good understanding of the game," Champenoy said. "He has already made an impact this preseason, and has shown that his reaction saves are at a very high level. He provides good distribution as well."
 
In the midfield, junior transfer Callum Bryan's presence has already been felt strongly during the team's preseason contests. The Middle Georgia State University transfer racked up 15 goals throughout his first three collegiate seasons as he brings a wealth of experience to the pitch. "Callum has a big personality, and will come in and be a vocal leader on the team from Day 1," Champenoy said. "He is a really versatile player, and will play multiple positions throughout the year."
 
MSUB's roster also features five true freshmen who will each have an opportunity to contribute. Kolja Thomas is the lone freshman defender, and will play a key role on the back line in bolstering the team's depth. "Kolja came in late, but has made an immediate impact," said Champenoy. "He is very disciplined and carries a strong presence across the back line."
 
In the midfield, Bjarne Fedkenhauer showed promising play during the preseason while making the transition to the United States from Ahrensburg, Germany. "Bjarne has come in with a high work rate, and he will be our glue in the midfield," said Champenoy. "He does a good job of holding our other players together, and allowing others to get forward and to be more creative."
 
Viggo Rogstrom of Sweden is also projected to be an impact midfielder, after being named his team's most improved player and scoring five goals with 13 assists in 20 appearances in his final prep season. "Viggo has come in with a really good tactical understanding of the game," Champenoy said. "He is a very clean, technical player, and he is only going to get better with every game as he gets used to the American college soccer style."
 
MSUB's roster also features local products Taylor Moore of Skyview high school and Tray Draayer of Senior High School, as well as Charlie Jordan of Snoqualmie, Wash., and Kamden Beck of Eagle Mountain, Utah who will seek to return from injuries. "Taylor and Trey have started growing into the squad, are very coachable, and have good ability," Champenoy said.
 
The Yellowjackets were selected to finish sixth in the 2022 GNAC preseason coaches poll, released earlier this month. The GNAC regular-season champion will earn the conference's automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA D2 West Region Championships, scheduled for Nov. 10-12.