Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - Garion Holian scored the game-winner in the 100th minute of play to lead Montana State University Billings to a 4-3 overtime victory over Northwest Nazarene on Saturday afternoon at the NNU Soccer Field.

The match marked the end of the 2011 season for the Crusaders.  "I'm really proud of our boys for fighting their way back into this one," Head Coach Coe Michaelson commented.  "Once we were level we had them on the ropes and unfortunately missed three golden opportunities to win it."

Fighting back was the theme of the afternoon as the Yellowjackets (7-8-2, 3-5-5 GNAC) struck quickly as Thomas Sheets headed home a Thomas Chameraud cross just 65 seconds into the match and then Holian scored his first goal of the contest in the 4th-minute with a blast from 45-yards away.  Holian took the shot from straight away from the goal, just sneaking it under the crossbar over leaping NNU goakeeper Mitch Rice.

The Crusaders (6-10-1, 1-9-0 GNAC) began the fight back in the 23rd minute when Stephen Marshall converted the first of his two penalty kicks on the afternoon after NNU forward Jose Oregon was taken down just inside the top of the box.

MSUB answered in the 30th minute with a sliding shot from point blank range by Thomas Sheets.  Sheets timed his approach perfectly, finding a Holian cross just 4-yards in front of the goalmouth.

Christian Adamson cut the lead to 3-2 in the 50th minute with a low header from just outside the far post, converting Dan Starbuck's free kick from 40-yards away.

NNU would make the comeback complete in the 78th minute when Oregon was again tackled inside the box and Marshall answered the call with his second penalty kick conversion.

Both teams would have great opportunities in the final minutes of regulation as MSUB's Thomas Chameraud took a shot off the post in the 83rd minute and NNU's Ben Mangeac forced MSUB goalkeeper Eoin Hurley to make a spectacular save in the 89th minute, sending the game to extra time.

"That is really the story of our season," Michaelson added.  "Playing well but letting ourselves down in the key attacking moment.  It was not for lack of trying and the boys have a right to feel they deserved more."

Michaelson continued, "Tonight we also say goodbye to six seniors.  They are part of the foundation of what we are building here.  They are fantastic young men and I feel blessed for my time spent with them."

NNU seniors include Mitch Rice, Zander Engeman, Alex and Ben Mangeac, Nate Hamm and Matt Larson.

Rice and Engeman each made one save and Hurley finished with four.

The Crusaders out shot MSUB 13-10 and finished with a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.