BILLINGS, Mont. – After one of the top seasons in Montana State University Billings men's soccer history, sophomore forward Ricardo Palomino has earned the HERO Sports Division II Legend of the Year award announced Monday.
 
"We are incredibly proud of Ricardo for earning this fantastic achievement," commented MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "He scored 16 goals for us and is fully deserving of this award. That being said, this award is also for our whole team and program, and it shows that we are moving in the right direction."
 
Palomino was one of 13 finalists for the award, which was decided by a nation-wide voting poll. Each finalist was a winner of the HERO Sports Hero of the Week throughout the 2015 season. Palomino, who was nominated for the weekly award twice this fall, won the honor after he scored a hat trick in the second half of a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Concordia University at home on Oct. 17 at Yellowjacket Field.
 
Palomino finished the year with the fourth-highest goals and scoring totals in MSUB history, and led the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and entire Division II west region with 16 goals and 34 points.
 
He was picked to the D2 Collegiate Commissioners Association first-team all-region, after being awarded first-team all-GNAC and the conference's co-Newcomer of the Year.
 
Palomino helped MSUB to its first winning season since 2012, as the Yellowjackets finished 2015 with a mark of 8-6-4 overall and 6-5-3 in GNAC games for fourth place.
 
"Ricardo worked very hard all season to put the team and himself into a position to be successful," Balog said. "We are very happy all that hard work is now being recognized with this national award."
 
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