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Saturday, Novemberber 2, 2002 |
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(Through Friday, November 1) |
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The Cardinals dropped their second straight game, losing to Hamline 2-1 in double overtime. … Bethel, meanwhile, handed league-leading Gustavus its first loss of the season, beating the Gusties 2-1 Tuesday. |
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Bethel scored two goals in the game's final 45 minutes en route to a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals on October 27, 2001. |
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Tuesday’s OT loss to Hamline was SMU’s fourth overtime game of the season — the Cardinals are 0-2-2 in those five games. … Brian Reddish (Crystal Lake, Ill.) scored SMU’s lone goal vs. the Pipers, his third of the season. … Hamline is just the fourth team in 15 games to score first vs. the Cardinals. … SMU’s two-game losing streak is its first since back-to-back losses on Sept. 14-15 vs. Central (2-1) and UW-Whitewater (7-1). … The Cardinals have not lost three straight all season. … Bethel, meanwhile, has won four of its last five. |
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Tim Clemans |
WINONA, Minn. — If there’s one thing the Saint Mary’s University men’s soccer team has become known for this season, it’s their proficiency for scoring first.
The Cardinals entered last Tuesday’s Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Hamline having scored first in all six of their wins and in 11 of their 14 games.
Against the Pipers, the Cardinals’ fast start got bogged down.
In fact, it was the Pipers who scored the first — and last — goals Tuesday, opening the scoring at the 20:45 mark, then netting the game-winner seven minutes into the second overtime, as Hamline handed SMU its second straight loss, 2-1.
“It definitely hurt,” said SMU coach Eric Luzzi, whose team fell to 3-3-1 in the MIAC and 6-7-2 overall with the loss. “That was a game in which we controlled the play for the most part, but could only come up with one goal.”
Thanks to a Ben Watkins’ goal 21 minutes into the first half, the Cardinals found themselves in a rather unfamiliar position — trying to play catch-up. And while it wasn’t a role the Cardinals were used to playing, they certainly didn’t let on.
SMU pelted Hamline goalie Brian Lawson with five second-half shots, finally getting the equalizer on a Brian Reddish (Crystal Lake, Ill.) goal with 18 minutes remaining in regulation.
After a scoreless first overtime period, Derek Vinge netted the game-winner for the Pipers, beating SMU goalie Bob Endemann (Woodridge, Ill.) with a shot from close range.
“In the 17 minutes of overtime play, (Hamline) crossed midfield three times,” Luzzi said. “And yet they found a way to capitalize on the scoring chance they did get — that was the difference.
“We need to make better use of the scoring opportunities we have,” continued Luzzi. “It’s not that we’re playing poorly — I thought we played a pretty solid game – we just can’t seem to put the ball in the net.”
It’s an ailment the Cardinals better cure in a hurry — or their current two-game slide will become a season-high three-gamer.
“Everyone’s a little disappointed (in the loss to Hamline), but there’s no doubt in my mind that they will come out ready to play (today against Bethel),” said Luzzi, noting that just the fact that today is senior day is motivation enough for his team. “This is a tight-knit group and I know that each and every one of them is going to give nothing short of their best to make sure our two seniors end their home careers on a high note.”