BILLINGS, Mont. – Playing into overtime for its second consecutive game, Montana State University Billings conceded a late goal and fell 2-1 to the University of Illinois-Springfield on Sunday afternoon at Sioux Park Field in the Mt. Rushmore Season Kickoff.
 
Jack Coombes scored on a pass from Ismael Serratos to propel the Prairie Stars to the victory after Chukwuka Iwe scored the first goal of the game on a penalty kick in the first half.
 
Thorge Jess scored for the second consecutive game to give the Yellowjackets (0-1-1) their only goal on a penalty kick. Overall on the game, MSUB had 13 shots compared with UIS's 12, and both teams placed eight shots on target.

"We knew they'd be dangerous from set pieces," commented head coach Alex Balog. "We played with a lot of passion and desire, but we should've kept the ball on the floor a bit more. It will be a huge week for us with the tournament next weekend."
 
Tom Lohmann had six saves for the Yellowjackets, and Kyle Hamilton matched that figure between the pipes for the Prairie Dogs.
 
Lohmann started off with a save on a shot by Ben Flodstrom in the second minute to prevent an early goal.
 
With five minutes gone, the Prairie Stars earned two-straight corner kicks, and Lohmann made two more saves on a pair of shots by Josh Kowalis.
 
Jess came up with the Yellowjackets' first attempt on target in the 11th minute, but Hamilton made the save. On an ensuing corner kick served by David Loeung, Rhys Lambert placed a shot on frame but Hamilton came through with another save.
 
Taking advantage of a penalty kick call in the 21st minute, Iwe found the back of the net from 12 yards out to give the Prairie Stars a 1-0 lead.
 
MSUB earned two more corner kicks after giving up the lead, and a shot by Jess on the latter was just high over the crossbar. Cameron Lee drew a foul inside the box on a shot, earning a penalty kick for the Yellowjackets with 13 minutes until halftime. Jess stepped up to the spot and buried the shot to pull MSUB even with UIS 1-1.
 
Jess wasted no time with another attempt on goal a minute later, but Hamilton notched a save to keep the score at 1-1.
 
Brent Heinlein got the second half started for UIS, but his attempt towards goal missed high. Jess fired another shot for the 'Jackets in the 57th minute but was no more fortunate than Heinlein as the German's attempt missed high as well.
 
Lambert put a shot on frame in the 62nd minute and Loeung followed with one of his own in the 66th, but Hamilton corralled both for a pair of saves.
 
Neither team managed a serious threat through the middle part of the second half, as another shot by Jess missed wide in the 78th minute.
 
Earning a corner kick in the 102nd minute, Coombes drove home the game-winning goal on an assist by Serratos.
 
THE BUZZ: The overtime defeat followed MSUB's double-overtime 2-2 draw against Upper Iowa University on Friday…Jess led all players with six shots on frame…MSUB played a total of seven overtime matches in 2013, including three OT contests in its first four games last season.
 
COMING UP: The Yellowjackets return home to host the MSUB Rimrock Classic sponsored by TNT Automotive and Marine next weekend at Yellowjacket Field. MSUB will take on Colorado Christian on Sept. 12 at 4 p.m., before facing Colorado Mesa on Sept. 14 at 3 p.m. Live video and statistics will be available for all tournament games at www.msubsports.com.