BILLINGS, Mont. – For the first time in program history, Montana State University Billings defeated No. 9 Simon Fraser University as the Yellowjackets upset the Clan 2-1 in come-from-behind fashion Thursday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Yellowjacket Field.
 
For the second straight game, the 'Jackets rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1, as goals from Guillaume Kremer and Victor Sanchez propelled MSUB to the historic victory. It was the team's second consecutive victory, as the 'Jackets improved to 7-9 overall and an even 5-5 in conference play.
 
"Right now we are very proud of the team," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "The character that the guys displayed throughout the whole 90 minutes from the front to the back was a joy. Simon Fraser is a team that

deserves a lot of credit, and they are very well coached. For us to beat them on our field is fantastic and we will go into the game against Western Washington on Saturday with a lot of confidence."
 
Simon Fraser snapped a five-game winning streak, and fell to 10-2-2 overall and 6-2-1 in league play. The Clan remain at the top of the table with 19 points. 

Senior Tom Lohmann broke the school's career saves record with the 197th of his career on a free-kick stop on a shot by SFU's Marcello Polisi in the 75th minute. "This was a big one for us, and we are excited and happy about this result," Lohmann said. "We were on the same page today, and we played like a unit out there."
 
MSUB generated a prime scoring chance five minutes into the match, when a long ball into the box by Kremer bounced around to the foot of JD Hauenstein. The sophomore ripped a shot from close range, but the SFU back line knocked it away before it reached the target.
 
It was SFU that struck first in the match, when Mamadi Camara broke free from his defender in the right corner and worked his way deep inside the goal box. Firing a shot from near the six-yard box, Camara beat Lohmann with a low shot inside the right post for his fourth goal of the year.
 
Equalizing before the halftime break, Kremer scored his team-high eighth goal of the year in the 38th minute. After the 'Jackets won a dangerous free kick on the right side of the field, Kremer masterfully curved a 25-yard, right-footed shot around the wall and inside the goal post past a diving Miguel Hof to make the score 1-1.


 
A stellar combination play by the 'Jackets led to the game-winning goal just seven minutes into the second half. Hauenstein broke off a long run down the left wing, and managed to lay off the ball to Eli Williams before tumbling to the turf against his defender. From there, Williams served a low cross towards the six-yard box where Sanchez gained goal-side position against his defender and ripped home his second goal of the season. "We have been putting it in and we really want to finish the season well," Sanchez said. "It was really nice to be able to help the program, and this being the first time we have beaten SFU is a big accomplishment."


 
Contributing perhaps its most complete game of the season was the Yellowjackets' back line, as Alexis Chavez, Realf Zhivanaj, Oliver Posarelli, and Luca Battistotti each played a full 90 minutes while commanding the defensive third. Posarelli and Zhivanaj were especially instrumental in the middle of the pitch, winning countless aerial balls and helping to shut down SFU's attack.
 
Lohmann totaled three saves in the game, and earned his seventh win of the year en route to achieving the school record in saves.
 
MSUB Career Saves Leaders (as of Oct. 26, 2017)

Rk.	Name	Saves	Seasons
1.	Tom Lohmann	198	2014-17
2.	Matt Mitchell	196	2007-10
3.	Eoin Hurley	177	2011-13
4.	Jess Feldtman	174	2003-05

There were just 11 total shots in the match between the teams, with neither side managing more than three in a half. Hof wound up with one save in the game for the Clan, while Camara led all players with three shots.
 
THE BUZZ: Posarelli was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 1-19-3 all-time against SFU and is 1-6-2 in matches played at Yellowjacket Field…Saturday's game marked the fourth nationally ranked opponent MSUB played this season…MSUB is 2-2 against nationally ranked opponents, after a 2-1 win over No. 12 Upper Iowa on Sept. 16.
 
COMING UP: MSUB hosts Western Washington University in another GNAC match on Saturday at Yellowjacket Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., and live video and live statistics will be available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.