Box Score BURNABY, B.C. – An early goal in the first half proved to be the difference Thursday evening as the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team fell to host Simon Fraser University 1-0 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at Terry Fox Field on the SFU campus.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-2-2, 2-1-1) suffered their first conference loss of the season, snapping a four-game undefeated streak heading into the action. The Clan (4-1-2, 2-1-1 GNAC) rebounded after a one-sided 5-0 loss to Western Washington in their last match to pull even with MSUB in the conference standings.
 
SFU's Olivia Aguiar scored her second goal of the season 18 minutes into the match, beating MSUB goalkeeper Chloe Hopps with a shot inside the goal box off of a cross by Katelyn Erhardsen.
 
The Yellowjackets' chances were limited throughout the match, as they were held to three shots on target and 10 overall.
 
Hopps was kept on her toes by the Clan's offense, as SFU placed half of its 16 total shots on target.
 
GNAC points leader Jessica Spang tied for the team lead in shots for the 'Jackets with two, and senior Elizabeth Howard matched Spang while placing one of hers on target. Aguiar and Allyson Dickson each had four shots and two on target in the match for SFU.
 
Defensively, Kari Kastelic, Katlyn Lokay, and Sarah Coghlan each played all 90 minutes to help keep the deficit at 1-0. Teegan Koster provided 50-plus solid minutes off the bench for the second match in a row, and Lindsay Lucore also contributed to the defensive effort as a substitute with 24 minutes.
 
SFU goalkeeper Priya Sandhu earned her fifth shutout of the season, as she made three saves including one in the 14th minute on a shot by Howard. Brittney Greenback also tested Sandhu with a shot on frame in the 31st minute, and Hayley Warren's strike in the 40th minute was also saved.
 
SFU's back line kept MSUB quiet in the second half as it did not allow a shot on target over the final 45 minutes. Carli Grosso, Christina Dickson, Teagan McManus, and Mikela Fong each played the entire game defensively for the Clan.
 
THE BUZZ: Hopps's seven saves were the most in a single game on the season…she was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for keeping the 'Jackets within one goal the entire match…freshmen Allie Trizna and Dariann Oaks made their debut collegiate appearances for the 'Jackets as substitutes playing 30 minutes each.
 
NEXT UP: MSUB remains out west to challenge Saint Martin's University on Saturday with a 1 p.m. Mountain time kickoff. Live stats will be available for the match here.