BURNABY, B.C. – The Simon Fraser men's soccer team scored two opening-half goals in less than seven minutes to record a 2-1 triumph at Montana State Billings Thursday to begin its Great Northwest Athletic Conference campaign.
 
Sophomore forward Sebastian Sjo fired home his first career SFU goal in the 13th minute before junior forward Devin O'Hea notched his third of the season just seven minutes later.
 
On the opener, SFU (4-2, 1-0 GNAC) put together a beautiful team effort. After winning a clearance near midfield, the Red Leafs moved the ball up the left side with a half-dozen passes. The seventh pass was a one-touch through ball from junior midfielder Ali Zohar to Sjo inside the penalty area. Sjo dribbled into the six-yard box where he scored from the left side.
 
In the 20th minute, O'Hea intercepted a Yellowjackets pass inside the penalty area and slotted a shot inside the right goal post to make it 2-0.
 
MSU Billings (2-4, 0-1) got back into the contest on a 60th-minute goal from Callum Bryan, who converted from the top of the 18-yard box with an attempt just under the crossbar. It sparked a strong push from the hosts in the final half hour.
 
Midway through the second half, a cross by the Yellowjackets bounced off the crossbar into the penalty area but was cleared by SFU. In the 88th minute, junior Red Leafs goalkeeper Justyn Sandhu was forced to make a good stop on a hard shot from outside the box by Guillermo Gonzalez. Sandhu also had a first-half save in the victory.
 
SFU scored on both its shots Thursday, while MSU Billings had six shots, three on target.
 
The Red Leafs will return to Burnaby to prepare for their first two conference home games next week – Sept. 29 (Seattle Pacific, 7:30 p.m.) and Oct. 1 (Northwest Nazarene, 1:30 p.m.) – at the SFU Stadium at Terry Fox Field. Men's soccer season tickets are on sale now for $59.50 here.

For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.

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