Jackets Fall to Northwest Nazarene in GNAC Opener, 2-1

Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. – First-year men’s soccer program, Northwest Nazarene, stayed unbeaten as it upset preseason conference favorite, Montana State Billings, Saturday afternoon in both teams’ Great Northwest Athletic Conference openers, 2-1.  With the loss, the Yellowjackets fall to 4-3 on the year, while NNU improves to 8-0-1.

“I was very disappointed in how we played today, it was our worst performance in two years,” head coach Dan McNally said.  “We picked a bad time to perform that way.  We have been on a great run and have won lots of games, now we have to figure out what we have done wrong and get ready for one of the best teams in the country in Fort Lewis on Tuesday.”

The game opened as NNU went right down the field in the opening moments and had a great scoring opportunity.  Benjamin Mangeac had a good look, but Yellowjacket goalkeeper, Matt Mitchell, made a great save. 

The Yellowjackets had a couple of good chances early as they got two corners in the first five minutes, but were unable to capitalize. 

Both teams continued to play hard and the Yellowjackets drew first blood as Scott Dixon served a great ball from about midfield to the center and Sam Charles beat his man and put it in the net for a 1-0 lead at the 29:12 mark. 

Later in the half, NNU scored as Josh Grewe received a nice pass from Mangeac on a 2-on-1 breakaway for a score with less than four minutes left in the opening period.

NNU had five shots in the opening half to just one for the Yellowjackets – the one they scored.  MSUB did have three corners to two for the Crusaders.

In the second half, the Crusaders scored the game winner as MSUB tried to clear a ball out of the box but Brock Ogami was there to collect it and fired from top of the right side of the box for the score at the 61:57 mark.

MSUB had some chances late, but was unable to get anything to go.

NNU out-shot the Jackets 9-6, but MSUB had the advantage in shots on goal at 5-4.  Mitchell made two saves for MSUB and NNU keeper Alexander Engemann had four in the game.

Charles led the Jackets with four shots and three on goal along with his score.  Chris Andre and Jarred Weisen each had shots for MSUB as well.  Mangeac paced NNU with four shots.