Adam Jones curled a perfect free-kick shot into the back of the net in the 23rd minute at Yellowjacket Field last Saturday, lifting No. 2-ranked Simon Fraser University to a 1-0 victory over the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team.
Simon Fraser shook off a draw at Northwest Nazarene a few days earlier and remained unbeaten on the year with an overall record of 9-0-1 and a Great Northwest Athletic Conference mark of 4-0-1.
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.
SFU goalkeeper Brandon Watson was forced to come up with a huge save, turning back a drive from the left side of the box by smothering the ball a few feet off the line.
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 the net, but pushed his shot from 15 yards away just right of the goal post.
Camara was the only player with multiple shots for the Clan, who earned their third shutout of the season.
The Clan plays four straight at home, beginning Oct. 15 against rival Western Washington at Terry Fox Field. Game time is 7 p.m.
