BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's soccer team fell short in it's second to last game of the regular season, losing 1-0 to Simon Fraser University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (6-7-4, 3-6-4 GNAC) spent the majority of the first half on their toes defensively, trying to see off a push from one of the conference's strongest units in the Red Leafs (12-3-2, 8-3-2 GNAC). MSUB would concede in the late in the first half to fall behind, and despite strong offensive moments in the second half, the team would be unable to scrap back a point.
 
Simon Fraser would come out of the gates strong, outshooting MSUB 12-3 across the first half. However, both teams would attempt one shot on target across the opening half as MSUB continued to hold out and deny the Red Leafs, but in the 38^th minute, the visitors would finally break through. A bit of excellent passing from SFU would see Dariella Lopez make her way through on net, finishing to open the scoring and put Simon Fraser on top.
 
The Yellowjackets would flip the script in the second half however, outshooting the Red Leafs 10-3 and showing improvement on both sides of the ball. But despite strong play at the back, and an abundance of chances, the Simon Fraser defense would prove difficult to break down. The Yellowjackets would put a pair of shots on goal, none closer than a Kendall McGraw effort in the 80^th minute that forced a save from SFU goalie Sarah Loewen. A few more late efforts would be unable to find a way on goal, before the final horn sounded to seal a road victory for the Red Leafs.
 
McGraw and Nyah Attaway each led the Yellowjackets with three shots, both putting one shot on goal. MSUB's other chance on net would come from Erika Wilson, who attempted a pair of shots. Jackie Sharpe also attempted two shots, with Liberty Palmer, Monica Brown, and Ave Roberts each shooting once.
 
THE BUZZ: Attaway was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… the result officially eliminated the Yellowjackets from contention for a GNAC Championships bid… the Yellowjackets currently sit in fifth place in the GNAC Standings, which would be the team's highest finish since the 2015 season.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets finish the 2024 season on Saturday, November 9 with a match against Western Washington University. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 PM at Yellowjacket Field, with the program's nine senior student-athletes set to be honored in senior day ceremonies around half an hour before kickoff. Live video is available here, and live statistics are available here. Tickets are available for purchase online here.