Game Summary

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — After five one-goal losses in his team's last six games, Saint Mary's University men's soccer coach Chris Dembiec was convinced that Wednesday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against St. Olaf would be different.

How right he was — unfortunately, not in a good way.

Wednesday's outcome wasn't another one-goal nailbiter.

Not by a long shot.

St. Olaf erupted for three first-half goals, the first two four minutes apart before the game was even 12 minutes old, and cruised to a 4-0 victory.

"I was worried about something like this happening," admitted SMU coach Chris Dembiec. "We have been playing so well lately and couldn't seem to get over the hump. And then today, we didn't show up at all, and St. Olaf just took it to us.

"We gave (St. Olaf) some simple scoring opportunities and they put them away," Dembiec added. "Before we knew what hit us, we were staring at a 3-0 hole."

Barrett Kennedy got the Oles on the board in the game's seventh minute, and by the time the first half ended, Brian Kehoe and Jacob Meyer had also beaten SMU goalkeeper Jon Szafranski (Barrington, Ill.). Phil Kennedy then completed the rout.

"We played a little better in the second half, but by then it was too late," said Dembiec. "It's been the story of our season of late — we dig a deep hole, and then decide to try and dig out.

"It's frustrating, but we've got to find a way to put it behind us and focus on the last couple of weeks of the season," added Dembiec, whose team has now dropped two straight and six of its last seven. "We've got four games left, hopefully we can get things headed in the right direction."