WINONA, Minn. — Only once in their first 11 games of the season had the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team and their opponents scored goals in the same game — and that was a 2-2 tie vs. Edgewood in the season's second game.

Other than that, it was either SMU winning by shutout (twice), its opponents winning by shutout (seven times), or the teams settling for a 0-0 tie (once).

The Cardinals have changed that trend over the past four games.

In fact, after scoring just seven goals in those first 11 games — two vs. Edgewood and five in a 5-0 rout of Marian — the Cardinals have netted four in their last four games.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, their opponents have also turned up the offensive heat of late, netting 13 goals during that same four-game span — including seven in St. John's 7-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Cardinals.

St. John's scored three times in the first half and four times in the second in handing SMU its most lopsided defeat of the season.

"I know this is going to sound strange because of the final score, but the game was actually much closer than the final score indicates," said SMU coach Eric Luzzi. "We had our share of chances — we had 13 shots, which, in soccer, is a lot. We caught St. John's on a bad day for us, and on a good day for them – they played very well."

Brian Reddish (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and Mike Schmitt (Woodridge, Ill.) scored for the Cardinals, who have now lost two straight and are winless in their last five (0-4-1). For Schmitt, it was his team-leading fifth goal of the season, while Reddish — SMU's leading scorer a year ago with five goals and 12 points — scored for the second time in the last four games.

"Injuries have really taken their toll on us the last week or so," said Luzzi, noting that the Cardinals played with just one substitute vs. St. Olaf, and with just two subs vs. St. John's. "We're a little thin, and when you play a team like St. John's, that is able to bring in eight fresh bodies like they did, it's tough to keep up."

Despite the Cardinals' recent woes, which include their current two-game losing streak, Luzzi isn't eager for the season to come to an end — in fact, just the opposite.

"This is a great group of guys, and I have really enjoyed working with them," said Luzzi, whose team closes out its season with a home game against Hamline on Saturday. "Our season is so short, it seems like just as we get things going, it comes to an end. We're looking at these last six days as a final chance to enjoy being together as a gruop — and, hopefully in the end, we'll be able to end the season on a high note (against Hamline)."