MSUB Men’s Soccer Falls Short at Whitman (September 6, 2002)

WALLA WALLA, WA – The MSU Billings Yellowjackets made a late charge, but fell 4-3 to Whitman in men’s soccer action on Thursday night.  After trailing 4-0, MSUB scored three goals in a 4:29 span late in the game to draw within one. 

Whitman managed two goals against Kevin Petriz just before halftime, scoring at 40:52 and 43:42 to take a 2-0 advantage into intermission.  After Whitman went up 4-0 at 71:29, the Yellowjackets’ Mark Cipolla went on a tear, scoring three goals in just under four and a half minutes. 

Cipolla scored on an unassisted goal at 73:09 and on a penalty kick at 73:33.  He then completed the hat trick at 77:38 with an assist from Lucas Sanchez. 

“We finally started to play our game with about 25 minutes left in the game,” said coach Doug Seigle.  “We go to within one at 4-3 and just kept shooting and shooting, but just couldn’t get the tying goal.  It’s a little frustrating because we let another one just slip away.  At times we show signs of becoming a good team.  We just need to put it together for a whole game.”

The Yellowjackets, who fall to 1-3 on the season, out-shot the Missionaries eight to five in the second half.  MSUB will travel to Spokane to face Whitworth College on Saturday.