Jacket Men to Play Two in ND (9/8/05)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings men’s soccer team will try to do something Saturday that it hasn’t done since the 2003 season: win back-to-back games.  The Yellowjackets, 1-4-0 overall, will face University of Sioux Falls and University of Mary on Saturday and Sunday respectively.  Both games will be played at Mary in Bismarck.

The Yellowjackets wrapped up last weekend’s Westminster College tournament in Salt Lake City with a 2-1 win over host Westminster.  Before that they dropped 3-2 decisions to Cal State-Monterey Bay and Colorado-Colorado Springs.  Of the Jackets’ four losses this year, three have been by one goal, and two of those the game winning goals have come in the final three minutes or in overtime.

MSU Billings forward Dustin Kono (Sr., Aberdeen, SD) will be looking for an individual milestone on Saturday at the same time that the team is trying to record consecutive wins.  Kono scored four goals in three games last week, finding the net in three consecutive games.  A goal Saturday would break the school record for consecutive games with at least one goal.

The Yellowjackets will face a tough test on Saturday against Sioux Falls.  The Cougars are 3-0 and have outscored their opponents a combined 14-5.  Sergio Banuelos has four goals in three games while Jordan Lempka and Bebe Jones have each scored three times. 

University of Mary is in its first transition year from the NAIA to NCAA Division II.  The Marauders will join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference beginning in 2006-2007.  Complete results and statistics are not available for the Marauders.

Following the trip to Bismarck, the Yellowjackets will finally play a home match.  They host Heartland Conference opponent University of the Incarnate Word on September 21.