Simon Fraser University is moving up the standings in Great Northwest conference men's soccer.
The Clan leapfrogged Montana State Billings into third place following two key conference wins on the road last week.
The Clan started it off with a 1-0 upset victory over second-place Northwest Nazarene on Oct. 23. SFU back up that up with a 3-1 win over Billing on Saturday.
In Idaho, team captain Jovan Blagojevic scored a world class, game-winning goal, lofting a 35-yeard shot past the Nazarene keeper in the opening eight minutes of play.
Clan keeper Brandon Watson came up big with two saves to preserve the win.
"Tonight, the team showed the most character that I have seen from a team in a long, long time," said Clan head coach Alan Koch in a press release. "It was a true team effort on the road. ... the team came together and played for each other."
Against Billings, senior defender Alexander Kleefeldt opened the scoring in the sixth minute and two minutes later Blagojevic found Nico Espinosa with a cross into the penalty area that the sophomore midfielder hammered home from five yards out.
Blagojevic then gave the visitors a 3-0 lead, deflecting a shot on goal off a defender and past goalkeeper Tom Lohmann in the 23rd minute for his conference-leading 14th goal of the season.
"Watson's shutout bid was spoiled in the 82nd minute off a throw-in.
"This is one of the toughest places to play in our conference and our guys came out fired up and ready to compete," said Koch in a second release. "It was an excellent start and great performance by the team."
SFU will close out its conference schedule with three consecutive games at home, beginning Thursday against the winless South Dakota School of Mines at Terry Fox Field. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Women continue to struggle
The Clan women lost 2-1 to Seattle Pacfic despite freshman midfielder Elishah Jilling's second goal in as many games in Great Northwest women's soccer.
Priya Sandhu made six saves in goal for the Clan, who were outshot 13-4 in the match.
SFU's record fell to 2-10-0 following the team's eight straight defeat this season.
