1998 Season Wrap-Up

With only one senior and a plethora of new faces, the 1998 Montana State-Billings men's soccer team made great strides in just its third year of existence. Playing a schedule that featured a Division I power and some top Division II clubs, MSU-B posted a respectable 6-13-1 record. In years to come, more experience will help the 'Jackets win the close ones; MSU-B went 3-6 in one goal games, including a 0-3 mark in overtime tilts.

Head coach Dan Carpenter, in his second season at the helm, saw his young 'Jackets pick up a milestone victory against the College of Notre Dame, play well against more veteran Pac West teams and be in virtually every game the team played in. A sign MSU-B is getting recognized on the field came when sophomore forward Dave Austin earned All-Far West Region honors. One of the top scorers in Pac West, Austin and newcomer Adnan Smajlovic gave the 'Jackets a solid one-two punch that should continue to wreak havoc in the coming years. A Year of Close Calls

In only the third game of the year, MSU-B had one of its best moments of the year, and probably, in the short history of the program. Playing in Utah against the College of Notre Dame (California), the 'Jackets got second half goals from sophomore Jeff Vega and junior Tyson Culver to beat the Argonauts, 3-1. Senior keeper Dave Thorvilson made nine stops in the victory, helping MSU-B forget the tough loss in the season opener. In that game, U.S. International rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the 'Jackets, 4-3, in overtime. Austin began his super sophomore year with two goals.

MSU-B's next two games, both at home, wouldn't count towards official NCAA records (due to association rules) but don't tell the 'Jackets they were meaningless. The home opener versus Flathead Valley C.C. (Mt.) was tough to stomach as the 'Jackets dominated the game but only got one goal, from Austin, to go in. A 1-0 win was on the horizon before FVCC scored with less than 30 seconds left in the game. The 'Jackets took their frustrations out on Lethbridge (Canada) the next day, scoring three times after the Pronghorns grabbed a 1-0 lead. Austin would score another two while Vega got his second.

Without a doubt, the toughest part of the schedule was next. The team would play four games in four days, all against Pac West members. The kicker was a 24-hour van ride to California where the mini-tournament was being held.

While the 'Jackets didn't secure a win, they did improve each day. Considering they hadn't practice a lot due to the long trip, MSU-B left Humboldt State knowing it could play with its future conference rivals.

Of course, there were the typical close losses. In the third game of the trip, Hawaii Pacific grabbed a 2-0 and held on for a 2-1 victory while host Humboldt scored at the 23^rd minute mark to beat MSU-B, 1-0. That game was significant because back-up keeper, junior Paul Corcoran, started and played well (eight saves) over 90 minutes.

As the season was beginning to show, one goal games would be something the 'Jackets would have to get used to. The following weekend found MSU-B in North Dakota where Mary and Sioux Falls were waiting. The UM game would be an extremely tough pill to swallow; tied one all in overtime, the Maurders were awarded a penalty kick (which they converted) on a very questionable call. The 'Jackets would score three goals, all in the first half, the next day against Sioux Falls to breeze to victory.

MSU-B finally returned home in late September with revenge on their minds. Mary was coming to town for two games and the 'Jackets hadn't forgotten how the last one had ended. But, the Marauders once again found a way to crush the 'Jackets hopes. After tying the game at the 70-minute mark, UM won the game 13 minutes into overtime.

The final tilt versus Mary would also be decided by one goal but, this time, it was the 'Jackets who would be victorious. Down 2-1, Austin tied the game right before halftime and then Smajlovic, on a pass from Matt Cameron, scored the game winner with eight minutes remaining.

After one of the biggest wins of the year, MSU-B hit the road to take on Gonzaga, a team that had made the NCAA Division I Tournament a year earlier. A former Bulldog, Thorvilson proved to his ex-teammates he could still play, stopping 23 shots. MSU-B was down just 1-0 at intermission and held Gonzaga scoreless for the last 30 minutes.

The 'Jackets sixth and final win came soon after in Kalispell against Flathead. Austin had his second hat trick of the season, propelling the 'Jackets to a 4-3 win and their second one goal victory in the last four games. Clearly, the young team was growing up.

Due to some injuries and red cards, the 'Jackets were extremely shorthanded in its final three games of the year, all in Colorado. MSU-B did give Colorado-Colorado Springs, an NCAA Tournament qualifier, a battle as Austin, fittingly, scored the 'Jackets final goal fo the year.

The club's only three-year member, junior Joey Murphy, would pickup team MVP honors as well as being selected Academic All-Conference. Culver, another all-academic choice, was chosen as team Defensive Player of the Year while Josh Reno earned Most Improved Player.