BILLINGS, Mont. – Change is in the air for the MSUB men's soccer team.
 
There's a new head coach in charge, with former assistant Paul Cuevas taking over the program following the summer departure of Aaron Champenoy. That change accompanies a total of 16 new players, along with the departure of 14 of the 19 total goals the team scored last season, and a starting goalkeeper. But despite the changes, and a sixth-place finish in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Cuevas and the Yellowjackets enter the 2024 campaign full of both optimism and expectations.
 
"Our standards are high," said Cuevas, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant for the Yellowjackets. "Even though it's our first year in charge, we know what to expect and we know what we want from the guys."
 
The 'Jackets look to build on a 2023 campaign where they finished 5-8-3 overall, and a seventh-place finish in conference play following a 2-6-2 record, including a highlight upset win over future conference champion Simon Fraser. This year's team looks to improve on that finish, and with it's roster continuing to gel after preseason, feels as if the 2024 version of the Yellowjackets can catch some teams off guard.
 
"My expectation with this group of guys is hard work and dedication going into the season," said Cuevas. "I think throughout the preseason we've hammered on that a bit more, especially with our upcoming games this week. But we're excited to be tested, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the guys react."
 
ROSTER OVERVIEW: In goal, a trio of keepers look to replace Jeremi Campagnolo, who started all of the Yellowjacket's 16 games last season. The group consists of redshirt freshman Fred Reiter, along with a pair of true freshmen in Mack Stilwell from Sammamish, Washington, and Andrew Schoenen from Great Falls, Montana. Ahead of them in defense, the Yellowjacket defense features the most returning players and minutes from last season. Captains Kolja Thomas and George Jones make up the core of the defense after playing 1295 and 1074 minutes respectively last season. Thomas was recognized as one of the conference's best defenders last year, collecting All-GNAC Second Team honors last year. Alongside them is All-GNAC Honorable Mention Guillermo Gonzalez, who collected one assist last season while shifting between the defense and midfield, and senior Jack Jarret, who started 14 of his 15 matches played last season. Complimenting them are a number of redshirts and new arrivals, including a pair of Billings natives in Davis Boogman and Aidan Benton, JUCO product Isaac Perez, and true freshman Kaleb Truong and Arlo Follet.
 
Moving into the midfield, assist leader Bjarne Fedkenhauer returns after collecting five in 2023, as does Ryan Hanley, who scored once last year before his season was cut short with injury. Alongside them, juniors Roddy Lewis and Taylor Moore look to continue to make an impact this season, while Carter Griffith and Charlie Jordan return to the program after redshirting in 2023. But the midfield group also consists of many new faces, with seven new players joining the program in 2024. Rene Tello comes to the Yellowjackets after starting his career at Richland College, while Cooper Davis comes from Laurel, Montana, Davis Cameron comes from Durango, Colorado, and Alex Tiedt joins from Prairie Village, Kansas. The rest of MSUB's midfield consists of Florian Senf from Rhoenblick, Germany, Matteo Bosch from Thunder Bay, Canada, and Kei Matsuyama, who was born in Higashikawa, Japan, but played high school soccer at Cypress Springs High School in Texas.
 
Leading the line for the 'Jackets in 2024 are returning forwards Sam Kemmer and Kamden Beck, each of whom had one goal last year. Also returning is Jackson Hanley, who made four appearances in his first season with MSUB. They are joined by D'Youville University transfer Aaron Baffour, who scored one goal last season, Tacoma Community College transfer Zach Browning, who had nine goals and three assists last season on his way to an All-NWAC Honorable Mention award, Coastal Bend College transfer So Nagano, who scored eight times and added three assists in 2023, and true freshman Logan Knight, who broke the single-season goal record at Mead High School last season with 26.
 
PRESEASON SLATE: The Yellowjackets played two preseason matches, falling to Rocky Mountain College by a score of 2-1, before facing off against Northwest College in a scrimmage.
 
SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS: The Yellowjackets open the season on the road with a trip to Helena to square off against Carroll College on Thursday, September 5 at 5 PM. They then return home to avenge their preseason loss against Rocky, taking on the Battlin' Bears at 7 PM on September 7. The Yellowjackets then hit the road for back-to-back weeks, playing games in Larado, Texas and Durango, Colorado before opening GNAC play on October 3 at home against Simon Fraser. A complete look at MSUB's 2024 schedule is available here.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW THE JACKETS: All MSUB home matches will be livestreamed for free on the MSUB Sports YouTube Channel. Meanwhile, live stats for all home matches are available online here.
 
Yellowjacket soccer operates a cashless ticket booth at all home matches. Tickets to individual matches, and season passes, are available online here. Admission is free to all MSUB students and staff, as well as children in eighth grade or younger.