BILLINGS, Mont. - Brock Ogami scored the game-winner in the 61st-minute as the Northwest Nazarene University men's soccer team defeated Montana State Billings 2-1 to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon in Billings.

"Today was an all-around quality team effort from start to finish," commented NNU head coach Coe Michaelson.  "We controlled possession for large parts of the day and fell behind on a defensive miscommunication.  To tie and then eventually win showed some character on the road."

The Crusaders remain undefeated, improving to 8-0-1 overall and 1-0-0 in GNAC play, while the Yellowjackets fall to 4-3-0 and 0-1-0.

MSUB opened the scoring in the 29th-minute when Sam Charles took a pass from Scott Dixon from the mid-field mark, controlling just inside the box and beating Zander Engemann for the opening goal.
 
NNU answered in the 41st-minute when Josh Grewe came off the bench to team with Ben Mangeac, evening the score when Mangeac drew two defenders and the goalkeeper on the left side and then found Grewe to the right for the five-yard chip in.

Ogami netted the game-winner in the 61st-minute, breaking loose on the right flank and finishing from the right side of the box with a low, driven far-post shot into the net.

Engemann finished with four saves for the Crusaders, all in the second half, while 'Jacket goalkeeper Matt Mitchell had two.

The Crusaders out-shot the 'Jackets 9-6, however MSUB had five shots on goal to the Crusaders four.

NNU will continue GNAC play next weekend, traveling to both Western Washington and Seattle Pacific University.