MORAGA, Calif. -- Senior Michael Semenza slotted home a 98th minute game-winner to lift the Saint Mary's men's soccer team to its fifth-straight victory with a 2-1 overtime win over longtime South Bay rival San Jose State this afternoon at Garaventa Soccer Field.

The win gives the Gaels a 5-2-0 overall record and its current 5-match win streak equals the longest in program history.  San Jose State dropped its fourth one goal decision of the year and falls to 2-5-0.

The Gaels return to action on the road Friday with a 4 p.m. kickoff at Sacramento State.  SMC concludes the weekend Sunday at 1 p.m. at UC Davis.  Links to live statistical coverage of both matches will be available on SMCGaels.com.

"Just as we expected, today was a very physical and competitive match," said SMC head coach Adam Cooper.  "Both teams really went at it.  It wasn't pretty, but we found a way to get a win.  In the end, as I've said the past couple of weeks, the guys really stepped-up when needed.  Junior and Semenza both scored great goals and our team simply found a way to get it done."

SMC senior goalkeeper Andre Rawls registered five saves and improves to 5-2-0 on the season.  One of the nation's leaders in saves, he faced 11 Spartan shots, seven of which were on frame.  The Gaels attempted 13 shots, 10 of which were on target.  SMC committed a season-high 23 fouls, compared to 19 against SJSU.

Match official Alex Gorin issued four cautions overall, yellow cards to SMC's Cory Schmidt and Jake Stenbergand SJSU's Rory Knibbs and a 73rd minute red card to Spartan defender Andrew Kelly.

Immediately after Kelly was ejected, Rafael Sanchez placed the resulting free kick into the upper right corner of the goal.  The attempted bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and across the line to give the Gaels a 1-0 lead.

San Jose State responded quickly as sophomore Uriel Ayala took advantage of a rebound in front of the Saint Mary's goal to punch a low shot past Rawls for the equalizer.

With the two teams tied at a goal apiece at the end of regulation, Saint Mary's maintained the majority of possession in the first golden goal overtime period.  

In the 99th minute, Sanchez sent a pass over the SJSU defense and into Semenza's run toward the SJSU goal.  He cut to the right, past a Spartan defender, found himself in a 1v1 position with SJSU keeper Felix Petermann and calmly slotted home the game winner.

The win gives Saint Mary's its second-straight overtime victory, including a dramatic 2-1 win at then 4th-ranked Washington. 

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