WINONA, Minn. — Early in the season, every coach likes to see his team put in a little extra work.

For Saint Mary's University men's soccer coach Eric Luzzi, however, it would be much better if his Cardinals put in their extra time during practice — not in his first-ever game as the team's head coach.

The fact that the Cardinals pulled out a 2-1, come-from-behind, double-overtime thriller over Loras on Sunday calmed Luzzi's nerves — a little bit, anyway.

"What a game," said Luzzi, who was sporting a grin that stretched from ear to ear following collegiate coaching victory No. 1. "Our team played their hearts out. I could not have asked them for anything more. They left it all out on the field."

And, thanks to Eric Brown's (Cary, Ill.) game-winner with just over three minutes remaining in the second OT, the Cardinals were rewarded handsomely for their effort.

"We talked before the game, we talked at halftime, and we talked between the overtime periods about how much these guys have already sacrificed," explained Luzzi. "They sacrificed in the off-season to get themselves ready for the season, they've sacrificed by staying in at night, while all their friends are out … they've sacrificed a lot — too much to let this game slip through their fingers."

Thanks to Brown's heroics, they didn't.

The Cardinals dug themselves an early hole, giving up a goal just 12 minutes into the opening period, despite dominating play at both ends of the field.

"We created a number of good scoring chances, we just couldn't finish them off," said Luzzi, noting that his team hit the crossbar on two occasions, while also missing several point-blank shots. "And against a team the caliber of Loras, you can't afford to miss too many opportunities."

Jake Kmetz (Maple Grove, Minn.) pulled the Cardinals even, heading in a loose ball of an SMU corner kick with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. The Cardinals would have two more golden scoring opportunities in the final minutes, but both times the ball sailed over the net.

Neither team managed to generate too much offense in the first 15-minute overtime period, but in the second, it appeared Loras would steal the victory as Brad Johnson broke in all alone on SMU goalie Matt Peck (Eau Claire, Wis.). Peck, however, was more than up for the challenge as he made a sprawling save to keep the score tied.

And set the stage for Brown's game-winner — a low, line-drive shot on a direct kick that just slipped between Loras goalkeeper Roger Bertossi and the left post.

"Loras is a great team and we knew this was going to be a battle," admitted Luzzi. "But then, we know that every game we play is going to be like this — and it's going to take this same type of effort day-in and day-out if we are going to be successful."