Box Score
Box Score

McNally Post-Game Interview                                             Lee and Marocchi Post-Game Interview

Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings men's soccer program has not only had a fast start to the 2012 season, they are also finishing strong. In their final games of the regular season the Yellowjackets have won three in a row including Thursday afternoon's match. As MSUB squared off against the University of Sioux Falls, they kept their post season hopes alive with a 1-0 victory.
 
Sioux Falls came into the contest with one win on the season and statistically out of any post season contention. The Cougars fully expected to be the team to spoil the Yellowjackets bid for a chance to appear in the NCAA West Regional tournament.
 
The first half's tempo had the feeling as if MSUB would let this opportunity slip away. Both teams went back and forth for the first 30 minutes of play attributing for 11 total shots. Sioux Falls had three of their six shot attempts fall on target. Yellowjacket goal keeper Eoin Hurley came up with two saves and the back line stopped the other attempt.
 
Sam Butterworth and Clifton Thomas each landed shots on target but Kyle Simons stopped one attempt while the Cougars defense came up with the other save.
 
To close out the first half, both teams had three attempts each. Ryan Keohane had the lone attempt that landed on goal, but Hurley denied his efforts.
 
MSUB and the Cougars entered the break tied 0-0, with the Yellowjackets holding the slight 8-7 edge in shots.
 
Feeling their energy was not up to their usual standard in the first half; MSUB came out strong in the second half. From the opening kick to the 56^th minute, the Jackets took four consecutive shots with two landing on target. While their attempts were becoming more efficient, MSUB still could not break through.
 
Joshua Marocchi's 56:01 attempt forced a team save that resulted in a corner kick for the Yellowjackets. Kyle Emerick put the ball in play and Marocchi crept in between two Cougar defenders to chip in a header attempt from three yards out, giving MSUB the 1-0 lead (56:57). The score marked his second goal of the season.
 
After scoring their first goal, the Jackets did not rest on their heels. MSUB continued to control possession and implement their attack. From 60:17 to 68:14 the Yellowjackets fired six consecutive shot attempts. Only Thomas Sheets' attempt at 66:29 landed on target however and the Jackets could not extend their lead.
 
Sioux Falls countered with shots at 75:38 and 78:50, but could not score the equalizer goal as the backline stopped both quality looks, recording a team save on one attempt and forcing the other attempt to land off target.
 
The Cougars shot one more attempt at 80:27 to try to even the scoreboard but Hurley came up with his third save of the day. Sheets took one more shot attempt for MSUB, but the Sioux Falls' defense blocked the effort and the Jackets went on to capture their 11^th victory of the season.
 
“It was an important win today,” stated head coach Dan McNally. “We played very well in the second half. I thought Sioux Falls defended very well and made it difficult for us. Now with a win on Saturday we know we will finish second in the GNAC and be in contention for the post season. Northwest Nazarene has a great team this year so it will be a very tough game. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
 
Co-captain Conner Moe and the backline recorded their fifth shutout of the season. Hurley finished with three saves and received his 10^th win of 2012.
 
Now at 11-4-2 overall and 7-4-2 in the GNAC, the Yellowjackets have a very strong resume to submit for a West Region NCAA Tournament bid. Their 11 wins marks the second time in the program's history they have reached this mark. Saturday, Nov. 3 against Northwest Nazarene University, MSUB will have to pass one final test to complete their 2012 campaign. Kick off will start promptly at 1:00 p.m. on Yellowjacket Field.