August 23, 2007

Yellowjackets Open Season with Shutout Win
   Box Score
   Post Game Audio

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Doing just what they set out to do, the Montana State Billings men’s soccer team opened the season with a 2-0 shutout win over Colorado Christian University Thursday in Denver.  The Jackets are 1-0 on the season while the Cougars drop to 0-1.

Chris Andre

Billings local Chris Andre, scored both the game winning goal and his first collegiate goal putting the Jackets on top at 20:51 of the first half.  The Yellowjackets sealed the win on forward Sam Charles’ (Weymouth, England) insurance goal at the 77:05 mark.  The goal was assisted by Scott Dixon (Dorset, England).

The Jackets fired 20 shots with nine on goal to the Cougars' six.  Jackets keeper Sander Tollefson (Missoula, Mont.) made three saves, all coming in the first half of play, while the Cougars’ Jon Wilkins posted seven saves.

Thursday’s win marks just the fourth time in school history that the men’s soccer team has won its opening game of the season.  The feat was last accomplished in 2004 against Humboldt State when the Jackets won 1-0.  The Yellowjackets’ squad and coaches are on a quest to record the first winning season in the program’s 12 years, and opening with a win on the road could be just the catapult the team needs to fulfill this goal.

The Yellowjackets travel to Grand Junction, Colo., to play against first-year program Mesa State Sunday before returning home to host University of Great Falls (0-2), also in its inaugural season on Saturday, Sept. 1.  Kickoff against UGF is 1:00 p.m. at the College of Technology.