Box Score
Box Score

Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings men's soccer team have played great in the midst of being disadvantaged with playing the majority of their games on the road thus far. The Yellowjackets trekked into Seattle, Wash. Thursday evening for their conference rematch against the highly touted Seattle Pacific Falcons. While MSUB out played Seattle Pacific in the first half, the Falcons edged the Yellowjackets with two second half goals.
 
Seattle Pacific came into the match holding the No. 9 national ranking in the Oct. 9 NSCAA/Continental Tire Poll. MSUB went head to head with their nationally ranked foe and out played them in the first half.
 
Joshua Marocchi took the first shot for the Jackets in the 10^th minute of play. The Falcons defense held up and effectively blocked Marocchi's attempt. Still holding possession, Conner Moe took shots in the 15^th and 18^th minute with his second shot landing on target. The Falcons' Zach Johnson effectively played the attempt and came up with a save.
 
With possession shifting back to Seattle Pacific they took shots in the 22^nd and 31^st minute of play. Both attempts had minimal effect as Kyle Brink and the backline forced one shot to land wide and blocked the other.
 
The Yellowjackets regained possession after Seattle Pacific's failed attempt and outshot the Falcons 5-1 to close out the half. Kyle Emerick, Landon Horst and Marocchi had shot on goal attempts during this surge. Unfortunately MSUB's strong offense did not produce any scores and they entered the intermission notched 0-0.
 
MSUB held the advantage in shots (8-5) and shots on goal (4-0) at the end of the half.
 
Feeling the pressure of the Yellowjacket offensive for the majority of the first half, Seattle Pacific increased their tempo and became more aggressive offensively. An offside penalty in the 56^th minute shifted possession to the Falcons and they would capitalize shortly after.
 
In the 59^th minute Blaine Carver scored the game's first goal off a Kyle Smurdon assist, giving Seattle Pacific the 1-0 lead. The Yellowjackets Thomas Sheets' countered with a shot on goal attempt in the 63^rd minute but the Falcon's goal keeper came up with another save.
 
After Sheets' attempt both teams dueled back in forth until Seattle Pacific dealt another crucial blow in the 76^th minute. Carver scored his second goal on the day to give the Falcons a firm 2-0 advantage.
 
While the Yellowjackets continued to fight, the two goal deficit would prove to be too large of a margin and Seattle Pacific went on to claim the victory.
 
“We were the better team in the first half but we didn't finish our chances,” head coach Dan McNally said. “Seattle Pacific made us pay for that in the second half. We had two huge road games in the last week and have come up short. If you miss chances at this level you get punished. It's hurt us this year.”
 
Both teams finished even in total shots (10-10), but MSUB landed more shots on target (6-2). Eoin Hurley made his 11^th start of the season.
 
Sitting at 6-4-1 overall and 3-4-1 in the GNAC, the Yellowjackets next contest will be Saturday, Oct. 13 in Lacey, Wash. against Saint Martin's University. MSUB defeated the Saints in their first match 3-0.