Box Score
LACEY, Wash. – For the second straight season, the Montana State Billings men's soccer team blanked Saint Martin's University on the road. Thursday, the Yellowjackets posted a 2-0 victory over the host Saints as they improved to 7-5-1 on the year and 2-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. SMU fell to 7-7 on the year and 2-4 in conference play. MSUB won at SMU last season, 1-0.
“A great result for us today,” MSUB head coach Dan McNally said. “Anytime you win a conference game on the road is excellent. We talked all week about playing the full 90 minutes, as that's what it takes to win conference games. We did that today and we got our rewards.”
Two second half goals by the Yellowjackets proved to be the difference as sophomore Conner Moe scored his first goal as a Yellowjacket. Moe took a pass from senior, captain, Chris Andre, and put it in the top left corner for the game winner and a 1-0 lead at the 50:27 mark. It was Andre's team-leading fifth assist of the season.
“I thought our two center backs, Conner Moe and Kyle Moriarty, were outstanding and Chris Andre stepped up again with a goal and an assist as he is having a great senior season,” McNally added.
Just over 11 minutes later, junior Peter Davies put a ball into the box and a hand ball was called. Andre took the penalty kick, converting his third PK of the season and his seventh goal for a 2-0 lead at the 61:03 mark. It also marked Andre's seventh multiple-point game of the season.
Moments later, sophomore Blair Stevenson received a red card and was sent off. From there, the Yellowjackets played with 10 players and preserved the shutout down a player for the final 27:59. Once Stevenson went out, the Saints had three shots with two on goal the rest of the way.
Andre lead the way with a goal and an assist, while junior Garion Holian tallied a team-high three shots with two on goal. MSUB had just six shots in the game with five on goal, but made the most of its attempts.
The Saints were led by five shots from Xan Nixon with one on goal. SMU outshot the Yellowjackets 17-6 and 7-5 in shots on goal, but MSUB goalkeeper, Matt Mitchell, was up to the challenge as he stopped six shots and the Yellowjackets had one team save. It was Mitchell's third shutout of the season.
The teams played to a scoreless draw at intermission, as SMU held an 8-3 lead in shots. MSUB sophomore Thomas Sheets had a good look early on, but the Saints came up with a team save. SMU goalkeeper, Zac Lubin, made two first half saves, too.
The Yellowjackets conclude their season-long, four-game, road trip at Seattle Pacific Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Pacific time. MSUB then returns home for the final four regular season games. The Jackets begin the home stand Thurs., Oct. 28, at 12:30 p.m. versus Western Washington University at Yellowjacket Field.
“Overall a good result today,” McNally concluded. “We have a young team that is improving every game and we now are looking forward to our next game against Seattle Pacific.”
