Photos of Augsburg game / here

WINONA, Minn. — Eric Luzzi is a tough man to please.

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 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 — 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 to his right.

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."