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Game Summary vs. Upper Iowa / GameDay Online

FAYETTE, Iowa — Despite their struggles this season, Saint Mary's University men's soccer coach Chris Dembiec has always found positives in at least one half of each of the Cardinals' games.

Wednesday afternoon, against Upper Iowa, however, wasn't one of those times.

“Usually, we play pretty well for one of the two halves, but that sure wasn't the case today,” said Dembiec, whose team dropped a 4-1 nonconference decision to the Peacocks. “We started out OK, but never really got into the game at all.

“This was a game, if we play the way we are capable, we easily could have — should have — won.”

Andy Anger (South Milwaukee, Wis.) accounted for the Cardinals' lone goal, knotting the game at 1-1 early in the first half with his first collegiate goal. Before the half ended, however, Upper Iowa would add two more goals, then tack on a fourth in the second half in handing SMU its fifth straight loss — and second consecutive 4-1 setback.

“It's tough,” said Dembiec, whose team returns to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play — on their home field for the first time this season — when they host Saint John's in a 3 p.m. contest Saturday. “We just can't seem to defend anyone right now. To give up four, four and five goals in our last three games (4-1 losses to Upper Iowa and Macalester and a 4-0 loss to Carleton), that's just not acceptable.

“You aren't going to win too many games giving up that many goals — we've got to do a better job in our defensive end.”