NAMPA, Idaho – Limited to four shots on Saturday, the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team was defeated 1-0 by No. 19 Northwest Nazarene University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at the NNU Soccer Field.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-2-3, 2-1-2 GNAC) suffered their first conference loss of the season, while the Crusaders (8-1-1, 4-0-1 GNAC) pushed their unbeaten streak to six games with five wins and a draw in that time span.
 
"Today we started a little flat, and NNU took advantage of that," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "We adjusted a few things at halftime, had a couple of good scoring chances, but we couldn't put it in the back of the net. The second half was a whole lot better, but overall we have to give credit to NNU which earned the win."
 
The lone goal of the match came in the 19th minute, when the Crusaders' Luke Broz found the back of the net on an assist by Julio Castillo. The shot on goal was one of seven on the match for NNU, which accumulated 15 total attempts while surrendering four to MSUB.
 
Yellowjacket goalkeeper Tom Lohmann finished the day with five big saves, keeping the Yellowjackets in the match until the final whistle.
 
Julian Toenges led the team with two shots – including one in the final five minutes from inside the 18-yard box that missed high – as MSUB was held without a shot on target throughout the match. Niklas Schregel and Thiago Novis each also had a shot attempt for MSUB.
 
For NNU goalkeeper Ryan Foo it was the sixth shutout of the season, as the Crusaders have allowed just one goal during their current six-game unbeaten streak and just three total on the season.
 
On the defensive unit, Garret Robinson and Cameron Lee each played 90 minutes for the Yellowjackets, and Anthony Morrell contributed 78 minutes in his first collegiate start. Sophomore Eli Williams also tallied a 90-minute complete game effort, starting for the second match in a row.
 
THE BUZZ: The Yellowjackets were without regular starters Tom Saltwell and David Loeung, who were injured in Thursday's game against Concordia, as well as senior Sam Butterworth who did not make the road trip due to injury…Lohmann earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors…Robinson has started all nine matches this season defensively.
 
"We can build on the second half, and we can go into the games against SPU and SMU with confidence," Balog said. "On this trip we played well in three of the four halves we played. For us nothing changes, and we are still in the race."
 
AHEAD: MSUB returns home for four straight matches at Yellowjacket Field. First up for MSUB is No. 5 Seattle Pacific University on Oct. 8, with a meeting against Saint Martin's University scheduled for two days later. The 'Jackets will then welcome the Crusaders and the Cavaliers of Concordia University (Ore.) the following weekend. All four home matches will feature live video and statistics available through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal.