|
Cardinal Roster
|
Cardinal Statistics
|
|
Cardinal Schedule
|
MIAC Standings
|
|
MIAC Statistics
|
|
 |
 |
| 2005 Records: 4-4-0 MIAC, 4-7-1 Overall |
| Last Week's Results: Saint Mary's 2, St. Olaf 0 / Details Saint Mary's 2, Augsburg 0 / Details |
| Upcoming Events: Sat., Oct. 22: St. John's at Saint Mary's, 3 p.m. |
| This and That: Ryan O'Connor (San Diego, Calif.) stopped all 18 shots he faced in posting back-to-back shutouts last week. … O'Connor's seven-save effort vs. St. Olaf last Wednesday was his first collegiate shutout. … Saturday's 2-0 win vs. Gustavus marked the first time the Cardinals have won (or tied) without Mike Schmitt (Woodridge, Ill.) scoring a goal. … Schmitt scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season vs. the Oles, then notched his first assist of the season vs. Augsburg to push his team-high point total to 15. … Schmitt has now recorded at least one point in four straight games. … Andy Neu (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) scored his first collegiate goal vs. Augsburg. … The Cardinals have now won two straight and three of their last four. … After dropping their first three home games, SMU is 2-0 in its last two home contests. … The Cardinals' two-game win streak is its first since beating Bethel and Carleton on Oct. 11 and Oct. 15, 2003. |
wins en route to season's first 2-game win streak
|
Who's Hot?
|
  |
|
Ryan
O'Connor Back-to-back 2-0 shutouts |
After his Saint Mary's University men's soccer team posted its first shutout win of the season last Wednesday in a 2-0 win over St. Olaf, he called his team's play "good, but nothing spectacular."
Saturday afternoon, Luzzi said his team's play against Augsburg was "scrappy and opportunistic — but still not as good as we can play."
And that was after a second straight, 2-0 shutout victory.
Which must leave the Cardinals scratching their heads and wondering just what they have to do to please their head coach.
"I'm a tough man to please," said Luzzi. "I know what this team is capable of, and I'm still waiting for us to put it all together — solid offense and defense all at the same time."
While he's waiting for "perfection," however, Luzzi will take the Cardinals' current effort — and the wins.
"The guys are playing their hearts out," said Luzzi, whose team has now won two straight for the first time this season. "Statistically, we were dominated (vs. Augsburg) — just like we were (Wednesday) against St. Olaf. But our offense was opportunistic and our defense did a pretty good job of clearing the ball away.
"Augsburg is a very good team – they gave us everything we could handle from start to finish," said Luzzi, whose team avenged a 5-0 setback at the hands — and feet — of the Auggies a year ago. "It wasn't one of our best all-around games, but in this conference, you'll take a win any way you can get it."
Andy Neu (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) got the Cardinals on the board in the game's 15th minute, taking a feed from Mike Schmitt (Woodridge, Ill.) and beating Augsburg goalkeeper Pascaul Venter for his first collegiate goal.
Jon Vik (St. Paul, Minn.) gave SMU some breathing room, getting a fortunate bounce when Andy Kozar's (Libertyville, Ill.) shot clanked off the crossbar and right to his foot. Vik one-timed the ball past Venter and the Cardinals hung on for their fourth win of the season.
"This was a big week for us," said Luzzi of his team's back-to-back 2-0 shutout wins — victories that helped the Cardinals even their MIAC record at 4-4-0, while improving to 4-7-1 overall. "Anytime you can win two straight in this league, it's a big boost. Now we've got a couple days off (due to fall break), then we'll come back, have a couple good training days, and get ready for St. John's (next Saturday).
"St. John's, at home, on Senior Day — that should be a great way to close out our home season."