HELENA, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings men's soccer team opened it's 2024 campaign with a 2-2 draw on the road against Carroll College.
 
The Yellowjackets (0-0-1) traveled to Helena to face the Saints (0-1-1) for the first time in regular season play since 2016, with both teams splitting the points in their first draw since 2014. The match saw a flurry of goals in the early stages, with both teams scoring twice in the opening 30 minutes of play, but neither team would be able to break the deadlock from there on out. Chances fell almost evenly for the teams, with MSUB attempting 12 shots with five on goal, and Carroll shooting ten times with three on goal.
 
MSUB didn't have to wait long to score their first goal of the season, when in just the third minute of action, newcomer So Nagano won the ball back in the midfield, and drove through the Saints defense before putting the first shot of his Yellowjacket career into the top left corner, handing MSUB an early lead. The teams would then go on to trade shots off target until the 22^nd minute, when Sean Balen would equalize, kicking off a frantic eight-minute stretch of play. Carroll would take their first lead of the match with a goal in the 26^th minute from Alfie Snow, but the Yellowjackets would respond just four minutes later, when a Ryan Hanley header off the crossbar from a freekick would be rebounded in by George Jones, evening the match up once more.
 
The game would remain deadlocked until halftime, after which the 'Jackets and Saints would take the field once more looking to pull ahead. The MSUB defense would limit quality chances, allowing just one shot on goal in the final 45 minutes. But despite the offense's best efforts, including three shots on goal in the second half, the Yellowjackets would be unable to find the back of the net again, settling for the draw against their cross-state competition.
 
Nagano led all Yellowjackets in shots with four, placing two shots on goal in the match. Jones would also place two shots on goal from defense, while fellow backline member Davis Boogman put his lone attempt of the match on target as well. Taylor Moore had two shots in the match, while brothers Ryan Hanley and Jackson Hanley each attempted one shot, as did Florian Senf. Freshman goalkeeper Andrew Schoenen made one save.
 
THE BUZZ: Nagano was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… Nagano, along with Schoenen, Boogman, Senf, Rene Tello, Zach Browning, Arlo Follet, Isaac Perez, Matteo Bosch, and Carter Griffith in making their regular season debuts for the Yellowjackets, along with the first game in charge for Yellowjacket head coach Paul Cuevas… Jones's goal was also the first of his MSUB career.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets take the field next at home in a Rimrock Rivalry rematch against crosstown rivals Rocky Mountain College on Saturday, September 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM, with live video available here, and live statistics available here. Tickets for Saturday's match are available for purchase online here.