BILLINGS, Mont. – Kyle Jones curled a perfect free-kick shot into the back of the net in the 23rd minute at Yellowjacket Field on Saturday, lifting No. 2 Simon Fraser University to a 1-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory over the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team.
 
Simon Fraser shook off a draw at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, and remained unbeaten on the year with an overall record of 9-0-1 and a GNAC mark of 4-0-1. The Yellowjackets (5-3-3, 1-1-3 GNAC) snapped an eight-game unbeaten streak with the loss, their first defeat at home this season.
 
The only goal of the game materialized after a foul by the 'Jackets just outside the goal box on the right side of the field. Jones ran onto the ball with his left foot, and tucked it past the protective wall
and then off MSUB goalkeeper Joe Scott's hand into the net. 
 
A red card for SFU shortly after Jones' goal gave MSUB the advantage of playing with one more player than the Clan, and the 'Jackets put their foot on the gas with 10 shots in the opening period.
 
Thiago Novis had the first dangerous chance of the match for the 'Jackets, as he ran onto a ball inside the box on the left side. The striker made solid contact, but SFU goalkeeper Brandon Watson smothered it as he charged off of his line.
 
MSUB's Ricardo Palomino also had a promising look towards goal in the first half, but his header shot with only Watson to beat was pushed over the crossbar. The Clan senior goalkeeper made three of his four saves in the opening 45 minutes, keeping the lead intact at the halftime break.
 
SFU came close to doubling its lead eight minutes into the second half, when a defensive breakdown by MSUB created a chance for Mamadi Camara inside the box. The striker had a clean look towards goal, but pushed his shot from 15 yards away just right of the goal post.
 
MSUB's looks towards goal were limited in the second half, with Watson's lone save coming on a long shot from Aidan Raj.
 
Camara was the only player with multiple shots for the Clan, who earned their third shutout of the season.
 
Next up for the Clan is a road contest at Concordia on Oct. 13 before the Clan plays four straight at home, beginning Oct. 15 against rival Western Washington at Terry Fox Field. Game time is 7 PM.

-- Courtesy MSUB Communications
 
--@SFUClan--