Yellowjackets and Falcons Play to 1-1 Draw

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BILLINGS, Mont. – On a very hot September day, the Montana State Billings men’s soccer team gave it all in a 1-1 tie with undefeated Seattle Pacific in both teams Great Northwest Athletic Conference openers.  With the tie, the Yellowjackets stand at 4-2-1 overall and 0-0-1 in conference play.  SPU now is 5-0-3 and 0-0-1 in conference play.

“Overall I think the 1-1 tie was a fair result today,” head coach Dan McNally said. “I thought we were the better team in the first half and it was disappointing we couldn’t add to our lead.  In the second half, SPU played very well and made it difficult for us.  I am disappointed with the goal we conceded, but I am proud of our guys’ effort on a very hot day.  We will move forward and I feel very good about how the team is playing right now.”

The Yellowjackets opened the scoring as GNAC scoring leader, Sam Charles, tallied his ninth goal of the year as he took a great pass from Chris Andre and a chip from Jeremy DeHerrera as Charles beat to Falcon defenders and fired a shot past goalkeeper, Kaleb Kuehn, for the score in the 18th minute.

The game remained 1-0 at half as MSUB held a 6-4 lead in shots and a 2-1 lead in corner kicks.  The Falcons made three saves in the opening stanza and MSUB had one as the Yellowjackets had the ball in the offensive end for much of the half.

SPU came out in the second half with more vigor and held an 11-3 lead in shots for the half.  MSUB goalkeeper, Matt Mitchell, made four second half saves. 

The Falcons tallied six corner kicks in the second half alone and eight for the game.  In the 72nd minute, SPU tied the game off a corner kick as Jon Pearman got his toe on the ball, knocking it off the post and in for the equalizer. 

In the waning moments of regulation, SPU had two good looks, but Mitchell was up to the challenge for the saves.

In the first overtime, SPU had another two good looks, but Mitchell stopped one and one ball sailed high as the game went into double overtime.  Just a few seconds into the second overtime, MSUB’s Garion Holian had a good look, but the ball went high just over the crossbar.

The Yellowjackets will be back in action Sunday at 4 p.m., versus Jamestown College capping a four-game home stand.

MSUB begins streak of six-of-seven away from home Thursday at Western Washington at 7 p.m.

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