Jacket Men Play Home Opener Wednesday (9/19/05)

BILLINGS, MT – After seven straight road games to open the season, the Montana State-Billings men’s soccer team will finally play at home this week.  The Yellowjackets host University of the Incarnate Word on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the MSU Billings College of Technology. 

The Yellowjackets are 2-5-0 after winning two of their last three games.  They defeated University of Mary, 4-1, on September 11 in Bismarck.  On Wednesday against the Cardinals the Yellowjackets will be looking for their first back-to-back wins since the 2003 season.

The Yellowjackets have been led offensively this year by senior forward Dustin Kono (Aberdeen, SD).  Kono currently has a school-record five-game scoring streak.  He has netted at least one goal in each of the last five games dating back to September 2 and has six of the team’s 14 goals this season.

Freshman Nick Slanina (Rapid City, SD) is second on the team with three goals.  He scored a pair in the Jackets’ win over Mary last week.  Senior captain Jesse Spann (Rock Springs, WY) has two goals on the season.  Greg McKeever (So., Kirkland, WA) and Marcus Riley (Sr., Kalispell, MT) share the team lead with two assists apiece.

The Cardinals were ranked fifth in the nation in the NSCAA preseason poll, but they lost three of their first four games to fall out of the national rankings.  Despite the 1-3-0 start, Incarnate Word was still ranked sixth in the Midwest Region last week.  They should be at least sixth again this week after evening their season record at 3-3-0 with a pair of wins over the weekend.  The Cardinals are led by Fernando Jorge, a senior forward from San Jose dos Campos.  Jorge has scored eight of the team’s 15 goals.

Following Wednesday’s game the Yellowjackets hit the road for three games in Texas.  They play at Trinity University in San Antonio on September 23.  The Jackets will travel to Austin for a game at St. Edward’s on September 25 before returning to San Antonio to face St. Mary’s on September 27.  After the Texas trip MSU Billings will play four in a row at home starting October 1 against Colorado Christian.