Box Score Box Score

Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings men's soccer team was fresh off a two game winning streak as they prepared to play their eighth away contest of the season. As the Yellowjackets traveled to Nampa, Idaho to compete against Northwest Nazarene University, they were edged by the Crusaders 1-0 with an early first half goal.
 
The Yellowjackets have been road warriors this season, as they have played eight out of ten games on the opponents' home turf. Having the luxury of playing their first pair of home games last weekend, MSUB built momentum going into their Northwest Nazarene match with two consecutive wins.
 
MSUB started fast against the Crusaders as senior Thomas Sheets took the first shot of the contest in the third minute. Northwest Nazarene countered shortly after, dealing the most crucial blow of the game. In the 10^th minute Evan McNiel received a cross pass from Sal Sanchez and he knocked in a shot from three yards out. The Crusaders took an early 1-0 lead that proved to be the game winning score.
 
Sheets tried to even the score with a shot on goal attempt in the 11^th minute, but the effort was saved by Northwest Nazarene's Alfredo Ontiveros. After the 16^th minute until the end of the first half, the Crusaders controlled possession taking three more shots compared to zero attempts by the Yellowjackets.
 

MSUB came out strong in the first half with Sheets, Christian Wilhelmsen and Joshua Marocchi taking shot attempts in the 49^th, 50^th and 52^nd minute. Sheets' shot was saved by the opposition and Wilhelmsen's and Marocchi's attempts were off target.
 
Following Marocchi's shot; the Yellowjackets and Crusaders went back and forth until the 66^th minute of play when Landon Horst took the final shot of the match for MSUB. Horst's attempt went high and Northwest Nazarene regained possession and closed out the second half with four more shot attempts.
 
The Crusaders improved to 6-2-3 overall and 5-0-2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference as they defeated MSUB 1-0.
 
“Really hard to accept this result,” stated head coach Dan McNally. “I thought we were the better team for 90 minutes and we have thrown away a big chance to progress in the region. This game is about riding all the highs and lows but tonight will be a long ride home for us. The major moments went against us.”
 
Northwest Nazarene outshot MSUB 10-6 and held the advantage in shot on goal attempts 3-2. Eoin Hurley started at goal keeper for the Jackets and had two saves on the day.
 
Now at 6-3-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the GNAC, the Yellowjackets next GNAC scheduled event will be a rematch against nationally ranked Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Wash. on Thursday Oct. 11 at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific Time).