BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings men's soccer team was upended on the road, falling short to Western Washington by a score of 2-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (3-4-4, 2-2-1 GNAC) and Vikings (4-4-3, 2-2-1 GNAC) both battled inclement conditions, with both wind and rain combining to create a physical, at times sloppy match. The teams proved just that in the opening minutes, with both teams earning and converting penalties in the opening three minutes of the match. But the Vikings would be the ones to convert the decisive goal, holding off the Yellowjacket's push for an equalizer throughout the match to deny MSUB of a positive result.
 
The 'Jackets couldn't have asked for a much better start to the match, when just after the game crossed the first minute mark, Jackson Hanley was pulled down by a Viking's defender to earn MSUB a penalty kick. Guillermo Gonzalez would step up to take it, and bury his attempt into the top left corner to give the Yellowjackets an early lead. But that lead would last just minutes when in the third minute, Western Washington would be fouled in the box for a penalty of their own, converting their chance to even things up once more. From there the two squads would trade blows, but it would be the hosts who would find a way through next, with Eric Bunnell finding an opening to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead. The Yellowjackets would have their fair share of chances throughout the first half, attempting ten shots and putting four efforts on goal, but they would be unable to find a way through, trailing by one goal at halftime.
 
The second half was a nervy and physical affair, with the two teams combining for 17 fouls and tensions boiling over multiple times as the game wore to a close. MSUB would attempt five shots across the final 45 minutes, but the 'Jackets would only manage to place one of their efforts on target, and would be unable to find a way through. Fred Reiter kept the Yellowjackets within reach of the tie, making four second half saves, but it wouldn't be enough, as the Vikings would hold on to grab the victory and move even with the Yellowjackets in the conference standings.
 
Reiter finished the game with six saves for the Yellowjackets. Meanwhile, Gonzalez scored his goal on three shots, with two shots on target. Florian Senf attempted a game high five shots, putting one shot on goal, while both Jack Jarrett and Davis Boogman put their lone shot attempts on goal. Bjarne Fedkenhauer attempted two shots, while Rene Tello, So Nagano, and Zach Browning each attempted one shot.
 
THE BUZZ: Gonzalez was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… his goal was scored 1:01 after the start of the match, tying for the tenth fastest goal scored in program history.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets remain on the road next week for a pair of games, opening things on Thursday, October 24 against Saint Martin's. Kickoff is set for 3 PM MT (2 PM PT), with live video available here, and live statistics available here.