Yellowjackets Blank Great Falls; Charles Becomes All-Time Leading Scorer in GNAC History

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BILLINGS, Mont. – Four second half goals propelled the Montana State Billings men’s soccer team to a hard-fought 4-0 victory over the University of Great Falls Sunday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.  The win was historic as senior captain, Sam Charles, became the Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-time leading goal scorer and tied the GNAC record for career points.  MSUB improved to 2-0 on the year, while the Argos fell to 1-2.

“This was a hard-fought victory,” MSUB head coach Dan McNally said.  “I was impressed with the determination and composure we displayed in the second half.  It was a good win against an in-state rival.”

Charles scored the record-breaking goal in the 77th minute on a header on the left side inside the 18 box with two nice passes from Jarred Weisen and Ryan Covey.  With the goal, his 41st since MSUB has been in the GNAC and 48th of his career, Charles broke the previous record, 40, held by Bobby McAlister of Seattle University from 2002-05.  Charles also tied McAlister with 93 career points for tops in the GNAC.  Charles has 109 career points at MSUB and as a freshman in the Heartland Conference, Charles scored seven goals and two assists for the Yellowjackets, however GNAC only recognizes records for the three years MSUB has been in the league.

“It is a great achievement for Sam to be the all-time leader in goals scored in the GNAC,” McNally added.  “He has consistently performed at a high level and his goals have been extremely important to our success.  There have been many great forwards in the GNAC and for Sam to have the most goals is a major accomplishment.”

The teams played a very physical game and an especially physical first half to the tune of 13 fouls in the opening stanza between both teams.  The Yellowjackets dominated much of the half in shots and corner kicks, but were unable to get anything in the net.  MSUB held a 7-2 lead in shots in the half and a 3-0 lead in corner kicks.

On the third corner kick of the second half, the Yellowjackets hit pay dirt as senior Jeremy DeHerrera was on the receiving end of a Covey corner scoring the game winner in the 55th minute.  Just about 10 minutes later, senior Jarred Weisen scored his second goal of the season on a clear out from just inside the box to the lower left post with assists from Chris Andre and Charles for a 2-0 lead.

Charles scored the historic third goal, followed three minutes later by sophomore Garion Holian’s second goal of the season.  Weisen beat a diving UGF goalkeeper and flicked it to Holian for the score and a 4-0 lead.

For the game, MSUB outshot the Argos 17-3 and held a 10-0 lead in shots on goal.  MSUB also held an 8-0 lead in corner kicks.  Charles led the way with five shots, three on goal, one goal and one assist.  Weisen and Covey each had two assists.

The Yellowjackets now head to California for a pair of matches with perennial powers Cal State-Los Angeles and Cal Poly Pomona, Wednesday and Friday, respectively.  MSUB will return to Yellowjacket Field for a 5 p.m. start on Thurs., Sept. 10, against Colorado State-Pueblo. 

This season ALL MSUB home men’s and women’s soccer games will be FREE on the internet with live video and audio as the voice of the Yellowjackets, Ken Adelblue, will have the call.