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Cardinal Roster
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Cardinal Statistics
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Cardinal Schedule
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MIAC Standings
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MIAC Statistics
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| 2005 Records: 0-0-0 MIAC, 0-1-1 Overall |
| Last Week's Results: Saint Mary's 1, Simpson 1 / Details St. Norbert 3, Saint Mary's 0 / Details |
| Upcoming Events: Mon., Sept. 5: Loras at SMU, 5 p.m. Sat., Sept. 10: SMU at Carthage, Noon |
| This and That: Mike Schmitt (Woodridge, Ill.), who boasted a team-high five goals and 11 points a year ago, picked up right where he left off, scoring SMU's lone goal in the Cardinals' 1-1 tie vs. Simpson. … Ryan O'Connor (San Diego, Calif.) made his first two collegiate starts in goal last week, stopping 10 of the 14 shots he faced. … Last Thursday's 1-1 tie vs. Simpson was the ninth in Eric Luzzi's five years as the Cardinals' head coach. … Monday's game vs. Loras is the home opener for SMU, which went 2-3-2 on its home turf in 2004. |
WINONA, Minn. — In their season opener against Simpson last Thursday, it was Mike Schmitt (Woodridge, Ill.) to the rescue, as the Saint Mary's University junior scored midway through the second half to lift the Cardinals to a 1-1 tie.
Two days later, the Cardinals once again found themselves playing catch-up, trailing St. Norbert 1-0 at the end of the game's opening 45 minutes.
Only this time, there were no SMU heroes to dig them out of the hole.
St. Norbert scored twice in the second – the third goal actually scored by SMU into its own net – as the Green Knights handed the Cardinals their first loss of the season, 3-0.
"We just did not play well — there was no energy out there at all," said SMU coach Eric Luzzi of the St. Norbert loss. "It was like night and day when you compare this game to the Simpson game. We didn't come away with a win (against Simpson), but we played very well and put ourselves in position to win.
"That type of energy just wasn't there this time."
The Cardinals equalled the Knights' offensive chances in the first half, as both teams managed three shots on goal. But it was St. Norbert that made the most of its shots, as Nick Bonifas beat SMU goalkeeper Ryan O'Connor (San Diego, Calif.) in the game's 11th minute.
Tyler Merkatoris made it 2-0 12 minutes into the second half, and, four minutes later, the Green Knights' lead climbed to 3-0 when a St. Norbert cross deflected off an SMU player and into the Cardinals' goal.
O'Connor finished with three saves, while a pair of St. Norbert goalies combined for six saves.
"This game was a little disappointing, but overall, I'm pretty happy with the way we've performed these first two games," said Luzzi, whose team returns to action Monday, playing host to Loras in a nonconference game. "It will be nice to get home and play in front of our fans — hopefully we can come out and put on a good show."