Box Score | GameDay Preview

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Saint Mary's University men's soccer team got off to a quick start in its conference-opening game against St. Thomas Wednesday afternoon.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it was St. Thomas that had the better finishing kick, as the Tommies tied the game with eight minutes remaining in the opening half, then netted the game-winner 30 seconds into the second, as UST handed SMU a 2-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback.

“There was some good, and some not-so-good out there today,” said SMU coach Pete Watkins. “We got off to a nice start, but let them tie things up before halftime, and then (St. Thomas) popped one in right away in the second half and that proved to be the difference.”

For the second game in a row, the Cardinals converted on a corner kick for their lone goal of the game, as Juamaine Venter (Rochester, Minn.) banged home a corner by Kameron McKeeth (Woodstock, Ga.) to give SMU a 1-0 advantage.

The Tommies' Kit Weaver foiled SMU goalkeeper Chris Williams' (Chicago, Ill.) bid for a third straight shutout, tying the game 1-1 in the game's 41st minute.

UST then took the lead for good, as Nick Rapisarda beat Williams just 30 seconds into the second half.

“Most of (St. Thomas') chances were because of our mental mistakes,” said Watkins, whose team falls to 0-1-0 in the MIAC and 1-3-1 overall. “We need to be better mentally, no question about that.”

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday, hosting St. Olaf in a 1 p.m. conference match at Ochrymowycz Field.

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