September 22, 2007                                                                            

Jacket Men Suffer First Loss
   Box Score
   MSUB Season Stats
   Post Game Comments

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The accomplishments of the Montana State Billings men’s soccer program will not be overshadowed by Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Western Washington University.  The Jackets, unbeaten through eight games, are now 7-1-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the GNAC.  The Vikings, who lost to the Jackets in Billings on Sept. 10, improve to 4-4-0, and1-2-0 in the league.

After conceding just two goals through eight games, the Yellowjackets had a rough go in the second half of play allowing Western Washington to score three goals in a span of 10 minutes. 

Chris Jepson scored the game-winner in the 64th minute on a long shot that found its way into the corner of the Jackets’ net.  At the 67:41 mark, Samir Vejo took a pass from Michael Ricci for the insurance goal.  The Vikings’ Gibson Bardsley scored his fifth goal of the season in the 74th minute after receiving a long pass crossing the goal from his teammate Oliver Wellman.

The Vikings outshot the Jackets 20-8 with an 8-2 shots on goal advantage.  Sander Tollefson (Missoula) made four saves in the game for the Yellowjackets before Matthew Mitchell (Thorton, Colo.) took over with 9:14 to play.  Mitchell made one save in the effort.

The Yellowjackets play their final game of the three-game road trip against No. 15 nationally-ranked Seattle (6-2-0, 1-1-0) on Monday, Sept. 24.  The Jackets shocked the Redhawks on Sept. 14 when MSUB handed Seattle a 1-0 loss.  Following Monday’s game in Seattle, the Yellowjackets return home to host Colorado Christian (0-8-0) on Sept. 29.  Kickoff is 1 p.m. at the College of Technology.