BILLINGS, Mont. – Finishing off a run of four consecutive home games, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team was defeated by Simon Fraser University, falling 2-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-6-0, 1-3-0 GNAC) would push the #23 Red Leafs (5-0-2, 2-0-1 GNAC) throughout the match, never letting their nationally ranked opponents truly feel comfortable in the match. But despite narrowly outshooting the Red Leafs 11-10, and matching them with five shots on goal, the Yellowjackets would be unable to find a goal in the match, while Simon Fraser would strike twice early in the second half to take hold of the lead and bring home a win.
 
The majority of the Yellowjacket's chances in the match would come from Liberty Palmer, who attempted five shots and put three shots on goal, and Cesia Swain, who shot four times and put two looks on goal. MSUB's other two shots would come from Kelsie Cox and Peyton Tarabokija respectively. In net, Emma Powell made a trio of saves.
 
The Red Leafs would threaten to score in just the second minute of action with the team's first shot on goal, but Powell would stop that chance, while MSUB would then deftly handle a pair of corners. It would set the 'Jackets up to counter with an attack of their own, with Palmer proving difficult for the Red Leaf's defense to handle. She would give the Yellowjackets their first shot on goal in the seventh minute, before putting up two more looks in the 17^th minute, including a chance that would miss just wide. Chances would be fewer and father between for both teams are the first half wore on, and both defenses would play strong, not allowing many shots either way as the teams carried a scoreless draw into the half.
 
But shortly after opening the second half began, it would take just 48 seconds for Simon Fraser to break through on goal, where Sarah Caravatta would slot it home to give the Red Leafs the lead. MSUB would immediately look to respond, with Swain putting up a pair of dangerous shots, including one that forced an impressive save from Sarah Loewen. But the Red Leafs would make the 'Jackets hopes of a comeback even more difficult, with Abbey Simpson scoring off a corner in the 57^th minute to extend the lead to 2-0. The 'Jackets would continue to push for a goal throughout, with Swain and Palmer putting three shots on goal in the final 25 minutes, all of which forced impressive saves from Loewen. But come the final whistle, the Yellowjackets would be unable to get a shot past the Red Leafs defense, with the game finishing 2-0 in favor of Simon Fraser.
 
THE BUZZ: Palmer was named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… MSUB is now 13-13-1 all-time in matches against Simon Fraser.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjacket take to the road next, squaring off against Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA on Thursday, October 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 PM MT (4 PM PT), with live video available on the GNAC Network, and live statistics available here.