Yellowjacket Men’s Soccer Faces Tough Test in Opening Weekend (Aug. 26, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings men’s soccer team has high expectations for the 2004 season and will face a good test this weekend when they open the season at a tournament hosted by Cal State-Chico.  The Yellowjackets will open against Humboldt State on Saturday night and face host team Cal State-Chico on Monday night.  Saturday's game starts at 5:00 p.m. and Monday's kicks off at 7:00 p.m. in Chico, Calif.

The Yellowjackets are coming off back-to-back six win seasons after going 6-9-1 last year.  They split a pair of games at Humboldt State at the beginning of last season, losing 2-1 before winning 1-0 in double overtime.  Humboldt was just 2-19 last season, but expects to be improved under first year coach Andy Cumbo.  The Yellowjackets are 2-6-1 all-time against Humboldt.

Victor Sargent’s (So., MF, Billings, MT) goal in the 111^th minute against the Lumberjacks gave MSU Billings its first win of the season.  Sargent returns this season along with Thomas Pertuit (Sr., MF, Billings, MT), Dustin Kono (Jr., F, Aberdeen, SD) and Robbie Thimm (Sr., MF, Park City, UT).  The four combined for 16 of the team’s 25 goals last season as well as 12 of its 20 assists and 44 of its 70 points.

Cal State-Chico may be the toughest draw on the Yellowjackets’ entire schedule this season.  The Wildcats are coming off a 21-5-1 season which included conference and regional championships.  Chico lost to Lynn University, 2-1, in last season’s NCAA Division II National Championship game.  The Wildcats are ranked No. 2 in the nation in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas preseason poll.  They return All-American Chris Wondolowski, who scored 12 goals with eight assists last season.  The Yellowjackets and Wildcats have never played.