Men’s Soccer Team Trying to Start a Home Winning Streak (Oct. 6, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings men’s soccer team continues its longest home stand ever this weekend when the Yellowjackets host Si Tanka University and Grand Canyon University.  MSU Billings, currently 5-8-0, will be trying to build on its win last Sunday against Westminster College.

The Yellowjackets have not posted consecutive wins this season, but have an opportunity to change that on their home field Friday when they host Si Tanka (formerly Huron) at 3:00 p.m.  MSU Billings defeated Westminster College on Sunday, 3-0.  The Yellowjackets will have Saturday off before hosting Grand Canyon at 3:00 on Sunday.  Grand Canyon and Si Tanka will meet in a neutral site game at noon on Saturday.

An interesting side note to Sunday’s game will be the fact that MSU Billings and Grand Canyon were both recently invited to join the Heartland Conference.  While neither school has yet accepted or declined the offer, they could be future conference opponents.

Thomas Pertuit (Sr., Billings, MT) scored three of the Yellowjackets’ four goals last weekend, including two in the win over Westminster.  Pertuit has a team-best 11 goals for the season to go with two assists for 24 points.  Of the three goals he scored last weekend, two were on penalty kicks, making him a perfect 5-for-5 on PKs this season.

Brian Palmer (Sr., Laramie, WY) scored the Jackets’ other goal last weekend and is second on the team with four goals.  He also has two assists for ten points.

After taking over for injured goalkeeper Jess Feldtman (Jr., Lander, WY) in the seventh game, senior Kyle Bales (Cody, WY) has played the last seven games in goal for MSU Billings.  In 585 minutes, Bales has a 2.62 goals against average with 41 saves.  Head coach Doug Seigle will likely have both Bales and Feldtman available to use this weekend.

Si Tanka from Huron, SD, advanced to the NAIA national tournament last season and finished 12-6-1.  The Screaming Eagles defeated MSU Billings, 5-2, at a neutral site game in Bismarck.  This season Si Tanka is off to a 6-2-1 start with a four-game unbeaten streak.  The Eagles defeated University of Mary, 1-0, in their last game.  Junior Beau Saar leads the team with seven goals and 15 points.

Grand Canyon was the NCAA Division II National Champion as recently as 1996.  Now in their second season as an independent, the Antelopes are 0-12-1.  Of their 13 games so far this season, the Lopes have played at home only twice.  Not only will Grand Canyon be desperate for a win in Billings, but the Lopes will also be thirsty for a goal.  They’ve been outscored 29-1 so far this season.

Note: MSU Billings will wrap up its 2004 home schedule on October 14 against University of Mary.  The Yellowjackets will finish the season with a trip to Colorado on October 17 and 18 for games at Colorado Springs and Metro State.