Yellowjackets Down Marauders, 2-1

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BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s soccer team returned to its winning ways with a hard-fought, 2-1 victory over the University of Mary Sunday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.  With the win, MSUB improved to 4-2 on the year, while Mary fell to 2-4-1. 

“It was a good win against a Mary team that has really improved over the last 12 months,” head coach Dan McNally said.  “I thought Matt Mitchell in goal was outstanding.  Also, Tom Milroy, Ross Carmichael, Blair Stevenson and Jeremy DeHerrera really contributed to our victory.”

The Marauders struck first in the 13th minute as Nikola Nikolic took a shot from the middle that went off the right goal post and shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived as Ross Carmichael flicked a ball from the top of the 18 to Garion Holian who fired it past Billings native, Derek Luptak, into the lower right corner for the equalizer just five minutes later.

The game stayed 1-1 at half as MSUB outshot Mary 9-2 in the opening stanza and had seven corner kick opportunities to none for the Marauders in the opening half.  Luptak made four, first half saves.

60 minutes in, Carmichael tallied his second assist of the game as he dished off to Sam Charles for a score and the game winner.  It was Charles’ team-leading eighth goal of the year.  Charles has scored in all six games this season and scored in the last seven dating back to last season.

Down the stretch the Marauders had a couple of good looks, but Mitchell was up to the task.  Mary’s Matt Binegar was on a breakaway one-on-one with Mitchell in the 75th minute and fired a shot off the post.  In the 84th minute, Nikolic had a good look at a potential second goal and the equalizer, but Mitchell came up with the key save to preserve the victory.  He had three saves on the day.

“Overall this has been a tough weekend, but we kept fighting and it was nice to get the win today,” McNally added.  We have a lot of hard work in front of us before a very difficult game against Seattle Pacific on Saturday.”

The Yellowjackets open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday versus Seattle Pacific at 3 p.m., at Yellowjacket Field.  MSUB then will close out the four-game home stand Sunday versus Jamestown College at 4 p.m. 

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.