BURNABY, B.C. – Set pieces were the name of the game on a wet and foggy Thursday evening as host Simon Fraser downed visiting Montana State Billings in both teams Great Northwest Athletic Conference openers, 3-1. With the loss the Yellowjackets fell to 4-2-1 on the year and 0-1 in league play, while SFU won its inaugural match as a member of the GNAC and improved to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
“It's disappointing to get back into the game in the second half and then concede two goals in the last 10 minutes,” MSUB head coach Dan McNally said. “I am very proud of the guys. It was very difficult at times as it felt like it was men against boys. We have a young team and we will get better from this experience. Simon Fraser has the oldest Division II team I've seen and it is going to be a challenge to compete with their experience.”
The Clan, ranked No. 1 nationally in NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), is in their first year in the GNAC as they make their transition to NCAA Division II. SFU jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Carlo Basso scored on a loose ball in front of the net off an assist from Michael Winter 12:04 into the contest. The score came off of a free kick.
SFU controlled much of the first half and held the 1-0 lead at intermission. The Clan held a 9-3 lead in shots during the first half as MSUB goalkeeper, Matt Mitchell, made three saves in the opening period to keep the deficit at 1-0.
Early on in the second half SFU continued to apply the pressure, but the Yellowjackets continued to fight and started to gain some momentum midway through the half.
The Jackets scored the equalizer as Chris Andre served a corner kick into the box as 6-2, senior James Henry got his head on the ball for the score and leveling the game at one. It was Andre's 20th career assist and second of the season, while it was James' first goal of the year and his first career goal at the 77:37 mark.
Simon Fraser regained the momentum four minutes later as Max Baessato scored on a header from Helge Neumann for the game winner and a 2-1 lead at 81:52. The quick, scoring SFU side tallied the third goal less than four minutes later as Sang Hwang scored unassisted off a free kick to the top left corner for the insurance goal and a 3-1 advantage.
The Clan entered Thursday's game scoring just under four goals a game (19 for the season) and had allowed just one goal all year.
MSUB tallied seven shots for the game and five on goal. Sophomore Thomas Sheets led the way with two shots off the bench. SFU tallied 17 shots with eight on goal. Basso led the way with six shots and three on goal and a score. Baessato fired three shots on goal with a score as well.
The Yellowjackets head back to the states to face Western Washington at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Bellingham, Wash. MSUB then returns home to host Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin's next Thursday and Saturday, respectively, at Yellowjacket Field.
