WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's soccer team put together its first two-game winning streak of the season last weekend, knocking off Rockford (2-1) and Benedictine (4-0) in a pair of nonconference games.

The wins gave the Cardinals some much-needed momentum heading into the stretch run of the conference season — which began Saturday afternoon at St. John's.

So much for a triumphant return to MIAC play.

The Johnnies scored three unanswered goals in a 16-minute span of the first half en route to a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals.

Mike Boland (Lake Zurich, Ill.) got the Cardinals (3-2-1 MIAC, 6-6-2 overall) on the board first, scoring his team-leading 10th goal of the season at the 7:08 mark of the first half. The lead, however, was short-lived as Ben Bahr beating SMU goalkeeper Bob Endemann (Woodridge, Ill.) at the 19:03 mark to tie the game at 1-1. Mike Rutter would make it 2-1 eight minutes later and Travis Miller completed the scoring at the 35:28 mark.

The Cardinals managed just two shots on goal in the defensive battle, while the Johnnies (4-2-2 MIAC, 10-4-2 overall) finished with six shots on goal.