Box Score BILLINGS, Mont. – Rhys Lambert finished a header goal on a great cross by Sam Butterworth in the 50th minute, and Thorge Jess scored in the final minute to give the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team a 2-0 shutout victory over Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Saint Martin's Thursday afternoon at Yellowjacket Field.
 
The Yellowjackets snapped a three-game losing skid with the victory, moving their 2014 record to 6-7-3 overall and 6-5-1 in GNAC play. "I'm very proud of our team today," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "We were in a hole, and we are digging ourselves out of it. We didn't play our best first half, but we kept working hard and it paid off with two great goals."
 
MSUB was outshot in the game 14-12, but the 'Jackets placed six of their shots on frame compared to five by the Saints. Each team won six corner kicks on the match, and MSUB goalkeeper Tom Lohmann recorded five saves.
 
Nick Rosato had four stops for SMU between the posts, as the Saints fell to 3-13 overall and 3-9 in conference play this season.
 
"Our back line also did its part with a long overdue confident defensive performance and subsequent clean sheet as a result," Balog said regarding the team's third shutout of the season.
 
The Saints had a couple of good scoring chances early on, as Jake Zimmer and McKray Kohn each had shots blocked out-of-bounds by the MSUB back line.
 
Butterworth came inches away from finding the net in the 32nd minute, curling a right-footed shot from the top of the box just over the crossbar towards the far post.
 
SMU won its sixth corner of the half with 10 minutes remaining, and Lohmann came off of his line and punched the cross clear of the box as he was fouled.
 
Winning a free kick just outside the box on the right side of the field, MSUB earned a golden opportunity inside of eight minutes remaining. Butterworth played a great square cross to an oncoming Andreas Moreano-Enriquez, whose one-time shot on goal was saved by Rosato with a dive.
 
A loose ball that bounced around the box resulted in a hand ball by the Saints, giving MSUB a penalty kick with three minutes to go in the first. Colin Ralston placed a low shot on target, but Rosato read the ball and deflected it out of bounds to prevent a goal directly before halftime.
 
MSUB took off in the second half, winning a free kick from 40 yards away from the goal. Butterworth served in a lofty cross, and Lambert was there with his head to finish the ball inside of the far post to make the score 1-0.
 
SMU nearly equalized with 17 minutes left, as a line-drive strike by Perry McNamar pierced the outside of the side netting towards the near post.
 
The Yellowjackets maintained composure during a physical second half, keeping enough possession to prevent a serious scoring threat by SMU into the closing minutes.
 
Tody Tolo nearly finished a shot on a run into the box with nine minutes left, but the offside flag was raised before his strike rolled just wide of the far post.
 
With less than a minute remaining, SMU earned a free kick in a dangerous location from 40 yards out on the left side. Lohmann came out on the play and collected the ball in the air with a strong leap.
 
A few seconds later, MSUB sealed the match as Julian Toenges played in a great cross and Jess finished his team-best seventh goal of the season from five yards out.
 
"Today's overall performance gives us confidence and will allow us to go into Saturday's game with a good feeling," Balog finished.
 
AHEAD: The Yellowjackets welcome Seattle Pacific, the No. 2 team in the NCAA on Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff time at Yellowjacket Field.