BILLINGS, Mont. – Jordan Devoto scored her second goal of the season in the 74th minute on Saturday at Yellowjacket Field, but a comeback effort by the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team came up just short in a 2-1 loss to Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Seattle Pacific University.
 
The Falcons protected their 2-0 lead, and made Megan Moore's 49th-minute goal hold up as the game-winner. SPU improved to 8-3-1 overall and is now 4-2 in conference action with its second victory in the last three matches.
 
The Yellowjackets dropped their second straight game, falling to 4-6-1 overall and 1-5 in league play. "Despite the result we can take positives from the match," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "I am pleased with the character response from the team after the disappointment on Thursday. We pushed really hard until the end to try and find the equalizer, and the players gave everything to the match."

Devoto's goal developed off of a throw-in for MSUB in the attacking third, as Cassidy O'Dell gained possession and lofted a high cross to the right side of the goal box. Settling the ball with an excellent touch, Devoto composed herself and fired a shot into the left corner of the goal.


 
"Jordan showed a lot of skill and composure on her finish," Cavallo said. "She always leads by example on effort and attitude, and it's great to see her take her chance like that."

MSUB created several chances in the final 15 minutes of action, but couldn't quite push the equalizer across. SPU's Abby Despain came through with a sliding save inside the box with four minutes left to go, as she got to a through ball just ahead of MSUB forward Amanda Grimshaw.
 
One minute later, Falcon goalkeeper Riley Travis slid forward off her line to secure a through ball in the box with midfielder Haylee Gunter in strong pursuit.
 
Overall the 'Jackets out-shot the Falcons 3-2 in the second half, and managed a pair of corner kicks, but Devoto's finish was their last serious threat on goal in the game.
 
MSUB goalkeeper Erinn Harder came off her line in the 12th minute to corral a dangerous through ball into the box before SPU's Sophia Chilczuk could reach it. The sophomore wound up with two saves in the match between the posts for the 'Jackets.
 
SPU took the lead midway through the opening half, on an excellent combination play on the right side of the field. Julia DeVere laid the ball off before embarking on a run into the box, and Moore lifted a perfect one-time right-footed pass beyond MSUB's back line. DeVere was on the receiving end, and neatly rolled her second goal of the year off the far post and into the net from the right side.
 
The Falcons took advantage of a defensive letdown shortly after the halftime break, developing the ball into the right corner with both Chilczuk and Moore opening up inside the box. Harder came forward to prevent Chilczuk from getting a shot off, so instead she rolled a drop pass to Moore who smashed her second goal of the year into the upper-right corner of the net.
 
Gunter led the 'Jackets with two shots in the game, and she had her team's other attempt on frame besides Devoto's goal. Kalin Sandow and Amanda Hemmen played a full 90 minutes on the back line for the 'Jackets, and Hallie Vervair contributed 71 quality minutes in her return to the starting lineup in the midfield.
 
THE BUZZ: Devoto was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…the goal was the sixth of her career…the 'Jackets are now 4-20-2 overall and 2-9 at home against Seattle Pacific.
 
NEXT WEEK: MSUB hits the road for a pair of GNAC matches, playing at No. 18 Western Washington on October 11 and at Simon Fraser University on October 13. Kickoff against the Vikings is scheduled for 7 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Mountain, and the game against the Clan is set for 1 p.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Mountain. Live video and live statistics for both matches will be available online through the MSUB Stretch Internet portal here.

Date	Location	H/A/N	Result	Score
9-15-03	Seattle, WA	A	L	5-0
9-22-04	Seattle, WA	A	L	3-0
9-27-07	Seattle, WA	A	L	1-0
10-27-07	Billings, MT	H	L	2-0
9-27-08	Billings, MT	H	L	3-0
11-8-08	Seattle, WA	A	L	3-0
10-21-09	Seattle, WA	A	L	4-0
11-5-09	Billings, MT	H	L (OT)	3-2
9-16-10	Seattle, WA	A	L	3-0 (SPU #19)
10-16-10	Billings, MT	H	L (OT)	2-1 (SPU #14)
11-13-10	Seattle, WA	A	L	2-0 (SPU #9)
9-29-11	Seattle, WA	A	W	1-0 (SPU #14)
10-29-11	Billings, MT	H	L	2-1
9-13-12	Billings, MT	H	W	2-1
10-13-12	Seattle, WA	A	L	3-0
11-1-12	Tukwila, WA	N	W	1-0 (SPU #22, GNAC Championships)
9-26-13	Seattle, WA	A	L	2-1 (SPU #25)
10-19-13	Billings, MT	H	L	3-0 (SPU #23)
9-27-14	Billings, MT	H	W	2-1
10-9-14	Seattle, WA	A	T (2 OT)	0-0
11-6-14	Tukwila, WA	N	L	1-0 (GNAC Championships)
10-15-15	Billings, MT	H	L	1-0 (SPU #19)
10-13-16	Billings, MT	H	L	1-0
10-22-16	Seattle, WA	A	T (2 OT)	3-3
10-21-17	Seattle, WA	A	L	3-0
10-6-18	Billings, MT	H	L	2-1