MSUB Men’s Soccer Secures Second Consecutive Winning Season

Box Score

SEATTLE – A hat trick by junior midfielder Jarred Weisen propelled the Montana State Billings men’s soccer team to a road 4-2 victory at Seattle Pacific on a cold and rainy Thursday evening.  With the victory the Yellowjackets post their second consecutive winning season and second 10-plus win season as they improve to 10-7 overall and 3-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  With the victory the Yellowjackets ended a three-game skid.

“To win 4-2 at Seattle Pacific is a great result for us,” head coach Dan McNally said.  “Tonight we were missing four starters, but the guys that played did a fantastic job.  The last three weeks have been very painful for MSUB men’s soccer, but I am so proud of the guys, they have stood with me over the last three weeks 100 percent and tonight I am a very proud coach.”

Playing without four regular starters, the Yellowjackets got on the board first as Tyler Moriarty scored his first career goal as a Yellowjacket as he fired a shot from the left side from about 22-yards out with the assist to Sam Charles at the 29:48 mark.  It was Charles’ first of two assists on the day.

Less than two minutes later, SPU (6-9-3, 4-3 GNAC) tied the game as Tyler Schultz scored his third goal of the season off a free kick by Griffen Fahling from about eight yards out past MSUB’s Matt Mitchell.  Later in the half, Weisen scored the first of his hat trick as he fired a shot from 12-yards out center past Ben Lovelace for a 2-1 halftime lead.

Both teams had five shots in the opening half and MSUB held a 3-1 lead in corner kicks in the opening period as well. 

Just under 20 minutes into the second half, the Falcons tied the game as Schultz scored his second goal of the game.  This time, he scored from 12-yards out off a nice cross pass from Drew Williams for a 2-2 score.

Weisen and the Yellowjackets would respond in kind.  Just like in the first half, less than two minutes after SPU’s goal, Weisen scored his second of the day as he dribbled through the box and fired for the game winner. 

Later in the half, Charles had a chance for the insurance goal on his fourth penalty kick opportunity of the season and to put him over 100 career points.  Lovelace made a great save to keep the score 3-2 in favor of the Yellowjackets. 

With just under five minutes remaining in regulation and the Yellowjackets clinging to a 3-2 lead, Weisen came up big again as he connected with Charles from 14-yards out for a 4-2 lead.  It was Weisen’s seventh goal of the season and his second career hat trick.  Charles stands at 99 career points and needs either a goal or an assist Saturday to eclipse the 100-point mark as a junior.

SPU out-shot MSUB 10-4 in the second half and 15-9 for the game, including 6-5 in shots on goal, but the Yellowjacket defense was up to the challenge and prevented the Falcons from more than one goal in the second half. 

Charles led the Yellowjackets with four shots and he had two assists.  Weisen had three shots on goal which resulted in three goals.  With four players out, all 11 starters for the Yellowjackets played all 90 minutes.

Defensively, Mitchell had four saves for MSUB, three in the second half.

The Yellowjackets complete the regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. pacific time at Saint Martin’s.