October 22, 2007

Jackets Shutout Falcons, 2-0
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BILLINGS, Mont. – Two second half goals were enough to lift the Montana State Billings men’s soccer team to the 2-0 shutout win over Seattle Pacific University Monday to close out the season at home.  Today’s conference win improved the Yellowjackets to 12-4-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the GNAC, while the Falcons fall to 7-4-6 and 2-2-2.  The shutout was MSUB’s conference-leading eighth of the season.

Sam Charles

Chris Cornish

On a day that would rival Chicago’s nickname of the windy city, both the Yellowjackets and Falcons battled through 45 minutes, taking a scoreless tie into halftime.  Midway into the second half, the Yellowjackets worked the ball into Falcon territory where Sam Charles (Weymouth, England) drew a foul inside the Seattle Pacific box.  Remaining perfect in penalty kick shots, Charles sank the ball into the Falcon’s net at the 59-minute mark to score the game-winner.  Charles is 6-for-6 in PK’s this season and the goal was his conference-leading 19th of the season.

Sensing the urgency, the Falcons tried to turn the momentum into their favor, but the Jackets held steady, continuing to pressure Seattle Pacific’s defense.  In the 67th minute, the duo of Scott Dixon (Dorset, England) and Charles raced up the left side passing the ball back and forth.  Charles took a shot with the Falcons’ keeper Kellen Rosten making a soft save.  A streaking Chris Cornish (Surrey, England) followed through on the rebound pushing the ball into the net just out of Rosten’s reach.  The insurance goal was Cornish’s first of the season with Charles picking up the assist.

The Yellowjackets outshot the Falcons 13-8 and held an 8-3 shots on goal advantage.  Rosten tackled six saves in the game with the Jackets’ Sander Tollefson (Missoula, MT) making three.

After Saturday’s 7-1 win over Jamestown College, the Yellowjackets were tied with the school record for goals scored in a single season at 39.  Charles’ and Cornish’s goals in today’s game propelled the 2007 squad into first in school history with a combined 41 goals. 

The Yellowjackets final regular season game will be against the University of Great Falls (5-8-0) Saturday, October 27 in Great Falls.  The Yellowjackets defeated the Argos 4-0 earlier in the season.  Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m.