Billings, MT – The Simon Fraser University Clan scored early and often to beat Montana State – Billings Yellowjackets 3-1 Saturday in a key Great Northwest Conference men's soccer game in Billings, Montana. Simon Fraser scored three goals in the first 24 minutes to secure the victory.
It was the second win in a row on the road for the Clan, who vaulted over MSUB into third place in the GNAC with a 6-3-2 conference record, 8-4-2 overall. MSUB falls to 6-5-1 and into fourth place in the conference. Seattle Pacific University holds down top spot in the conference and Northwest Nazarene is second.
"This is one of the toughest places to play in our conference and our guys came out fired up and ready to compete. It was an excellent start and great performance by the team," said head coach
Alan Koch. "We got off to great start that enabled us to focus on managing the second half."
Senior defender
Alexander Kleefeldt (Frankfurt, Germany) struck home a right-footed shot from six yards out off a corner-kick from midfielder
Alex Rowley (Maple Ridge, BC) to give the Clan a lead in the sixth minute. Less than two minutes later the Clan struck again. Senior forward
Jovan Blagojevic (Coquitlam, BC) pushed the ball past a defender on the left side and then crossed the ball to sophomore midfielder
Nico Espinosa (Calgary, AB) in the penalty area. Espinosa struck home a shot from five yards out to put the Clan up by two.
Blagojevic gave the Clan a comfortable lead when he notched his conference-leading 14
th goal of the season. The Clan captain dribbled down the left side, beat defender Nicklas Schregel into the box, and fired a shot that was deflected past goalkeeper Tom Lohmann and into the goal in the 23rd minute.
Blagojevic now has 14 goals in 14 games. It is the 16
th best goal-scoring season on record for the Clan, matching the 14 goals Blagojevic's current coach, Alana Koch, scored during the 1998 season .
MSUB spoiled Clan keeper
Brandon Watson's (Victoria, BC) shutout bid in the 82
nd minute when Colin Ralston scored from six yards out off a throw-in. But it was too little, too late.
Simon Fraser outshot the home squad 20-7 and forced Lohman into making 10 saves, including seven in the second half. Watson was forced to make just two saves in the game.
MSUB received five yellow cards in the game.
Simon Fraser closes out its conference schedule with three straight home games on Terry Fox Field, beginning Oct. 30 against Mary Marauders. Game time is 7:30 pm.
