FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, October 27, 2016 No. 3 Simon Fraser powers past MSUB 4-0 Thursday
Simon Fraser builds on a 1-0 halftime lead with three goals in the second half to roll past the MSUB men’s soccer team 40 on Thursday. BURNABY, B.C. – Falling to the No. 3 team in the NCAA, the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team suffered a 4-0 loss at Simon Fraser University Thursday night in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Terry Fox Field. The Clan took a 1-0 lead into halftime, and used three quick goals early in the second half to run away with the game. SFU remained undefeated at 12-0-2 overall, and 7-0-2 in GNAC play to stay in first place. The ‘Jackets are now 8-5-3 overall with the loss, and fell to 4-3-3 in league play with the loss. Winning a free kick from 25 yards away midway through the first, Guillaume Kremer came close to putting the ‘Jackets ahead. The sophomore lined a dipping shot towards the far post, but it took a deflection and rolled out for a corner kick.
The Clan struck first, capitalizing on a set piece opportunity with less than 10 minutes before halftime. Adam Jones curled a tight, right-footed ball into the box, and Riley Peng got in front of it to head it into the lower corner of the net. Hinting that a second goal was on its way, Jones ripped a right-footed shot off of the crossbar five minutes into the second half. Ryan Dhillon doubled SFU’s lead minutes later, finishing a shot from inside the box after a lengthy run down the left side of the field. Magnus Kristensen headed home the Clan’s third goal with 33 minutes to play, as a corner kick helped SFU push the game out of reach. Another goal by Pascal Schmidt off of a corner kick increased the lead with 25 minutes to play, as he finished a shot from close range after a missed catch. JD Hauenstein had one final chance to score for MSUB inside of two minutes to play, but he was chased down inside the box at the last second and pushed a shot left of the goal post. MSUB was out-shot 14-9 in the match, and the Clan placed seven shots on target compared with four for MSUB. SFU goalkeeper Brandon Watson made four saves to earn the shutout, and Kristensen, Schmidt, Robert Hyams, and Anthony Van DeVendel all played the full 90 minutes defensively. Kremer, Rhys Lambert, and Hauenstein each played the entire match for MSUB, and junior goalkeeper Joe Scott made three saves while allowing all four goals. Though SFU held just a 5-4 edge in corner kicks, the Clan was extremely dangerous on set pieces with two goals coming off of corners and the other on a free kick. THE BUZZ: Kremer was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…this was the first time MSUB was held without a goal since a 1-0 home loss to SFU on Oct. 8…MSUB is still in search of its first-ever win against SFU, as the Clan hold an 18-0-3 record. WHERE THINGS STAND: MSUB entered Thursday’s game ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II West Region poll, while SFU was the No. 1 team. The top-six teams in the region at the end of the season earn a berth into the regional playoffs, which will be hosted by the No. 1 seed. Western Washington defeated Northwest Nazarene 2-0 on Thursday, helping the ‘Jackets remain two points behind the Crusaders in the GNAC standings. SFU is now one win away from clinching the GNAC title. COMING UP: MSUB plays its final road match of the regular season on Saturday, taking on Western Washington University on Saturday at 8 p.m. Mountain time. The ‘Jackets will then return to Billings for Senior Day against Saint Martin’s University on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. at Yellowjacket Field. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--