BURNABY, B.C. – A pair of set-piece goals by Simon Fraser University helped the hosts to a 2-0 shutout of the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team on Saturday afternoon at Terry Fox Field.
 
The Red Leafs scored twice on corner kicks in the opening half, and managed to keep the Yellowjackets out of the net to claim their third shutout of the 2022 season. SFU held a 21-9 advantage in shots, including a mark of 11-5 in shots on goal. SFU improved to 2-4-4 with the win and is now 1-3-2 in GNAC play.
 
MSUB goalkeeper Clare Keenan had another big performance between the posts, making eight key saves to help keep the Yellowjackets in the match. MSUB slipped to 1-7-3 with the loss and is now 1-4-1 in conference play.
 
Simon Fraser jumped ahead midway through the first half, taking advantage of their fourth corner kick of the match. After a header by Gabriella Zaurrini was flicked to the back post, Jenieva Musico was there to tap it into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box.
 
The Yellowjackets came close to equalizing three minutes after conceding the goal, when good combination play in the midfield led to Jillian Hust gaining possession of the ball and beating her defender into the box. SFU goalkeeper Sarah Loewen sprawled out to her left to tip Hust's low shot just wide of the far post.
 
Not only was Keenan instrumental in keeping the score at 1-0 in the opening half, but her long direct balls over the top led to some of the Yellowjackets' most promising looks offensively. One of the best chances came on a long ball from Keenan with three minutes to go before halftime, which resulted in a free kick just outside the box. Taylor Gertsch got her shot attempt on frame, but Loewen comfortably smothered it.
 
The Red Leafs capitalized on another corner kick just before halftime, as Jazz Dev lifted a well-struck cross towards the back post where Kaiden Sherwood was able to punch it into the net amid a crowd of players.
 
Gertsch had another set piece try directly out of the halftime break, and this time nearly got the Yellowjackets on the board. Her curling, right-footed strike from long range glanced off the crossbar as she just missed the upper-left corner of the net.
 
Perhaps Keenan's best save of the afternoon came with 15 minutes left in the match, when SFU pushed numbers forward and had a clean breakaway into the box. Isabella Muzzolini was found in stride with a perfect pass, but Keenan dove to stop her wide-open shot towards goal from 10 yards away.
 
Emilyn Krans came inches away from giving the Yellowjackets a late goal, when her header directly off a corner kick in the 86th minute carried just over the crossbar.
 
Loewen finished with five saves to collect her second shutout of the season, while Kate Cartier led the SFU attack with five shots including two on frame. Gertsch led the Yellowjackets with three shots and two on target.
 
THE BUZZ: Keenan was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 13-9 all-time against SFU and is 6-6 in road matches.
 
NEXT WEEK: The road stretch continues for the Yellowjackets, who play at Northwest Nazarene next Thursday at 4 p.m. and at Seattle Pacific next Saturday at 2 p.m. Live coverage for next week's matches will be available online here.