Yellowjackets Open Season with Thrilling, Double-Overtime Victory, 4-3

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SALT LAKE CITY – The Montana State Billings men’s soccer team got the 2008 campaign off to a good start with a hard-fought, thrilling, come-from-behind, double-overtime victory over Dixie State Friday afternoon, 4-3.  With the victory, MSUB improves to 1-0 on the year, while Dixie State falls to 0-1.  An own goal by the Rebels at the 103:40 mark gave the Jackets the victory as Scott Dixon had his 35-yard shot deflected right into the goal for the game winner.

“Today’s game was always going to be very difficult,” head coach Dan McNally said.  “Dixie State worked hard and it was difficult to break them down.  We showed great heart in winning the game in overtime.  I would like to dedicate that game to my dad, Stephen McNally, who is recovering in England from a recent heart attack.  Sometimes you need huge heart to win.”

Dixie State, who is in its first game as an intercollegiate soccer program, got on the board first as Kyle Yarush headed a ball from about 12 yards out, past Yellowjacket keeper Sander Tollefson for an early 1-0 lead.  The Rebels had been a very successful club program, prior to becoming an intercollegiate men’s soccer team this season.

Moments later, MSUB’s Justin Hoskins evened the score as he won a 50/50 ball and scored on an open net as Sam Charles recorded the assist.  Charles moved into a tie for sixth on the all-time assists record with his sixth dish. 

The Yellowjackets took the lead 1:17 later as Charles went one-on-one with the keeper from about five yards out for the score from a Dixon assist.  With the goal by Charles, he moves into a tie for first on the all-time goals list.  Former Yellowjacket Dave Austin and Charles each have 27 career goals. 

MSUB had three good looks the rest of the half to pad its lead, but to no avail.  Dixie State tied the game late in the half as Parker Kennah received a rebound off a direct kick off the crossbar and in the net for a 2-2 score at intermission.

The Jackets out-shot the Rebels in the first half, 7-6 and had a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks in the opening stanza.  Tollefson had three saves in the opening period.

DSC took the lead early in the second half as Zac Hales, who had the assist on the first goal, scored on a shot from 30 yards out for a 3-2 lead at the 50:34 mark.

From that moment on, MSUB had a number of good looks but could get nothing past Rebel keeper Ben Brooksby.  On the flipside, DSC had two great scoring chances to pad its lead, but key blocks by the Jacket defense kept the deficit at one.

In the 88th minute, MSUB’s Jarred Weisen received a nice through ball from Kyle Moriarty for a breakaway goal and evened the game at three.

After 90 minutes, MSUB held a 14-13 lead in shots and an 8-5 lead in corner kicks.  Tollefson had six saves and Brooksby had four through two halves. 

In the second overtime, Dixon fired a shot from about 35 yards out and it was deflected off a Dixie State player into the goal for an own goal and the game winner.

For the game, Charles had one goal, one assist and nine shots with four on goal.  In addition to moving up in assists and goals, he also became tied for second in career points as well with Thomas Pertuit at 60.  With Dixon’s assist, he is now three shy of the school record (Pertuit with 14) in a career with 11.  

Hales paced the Rebels with a goal and an assist.  Kyle Beck, Kevin Young and Jonathan Langston each had three shots.

The Jackets out-shot Dixie State 17-14 for the game and had 10 corner kicks to five.  Tollefson had seven saves on the day for MSUB.