Game Summary /
GameDay Preview
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's soccer team matched Bethel in virtually every category during the teams' Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener Tuesday afternoon.
Unfortunately, every category except the most important one, that is, as the Royals raced out to an early lead and never looked back in handing SMU a 3-1 setback.
“The frustrating thing is, we played well enough to win,” said SMU coach Chris Dembiec. “We had our fair share of chances and didn't capitalize on them, and we made a couple mistakes that (Bethel) converted.”
Bethel scored the lone goal of the first half, then netted back-to-back goals one minute apart early in the second half to push its advantage to 3-0. Jermaine Venter (Rochester, Minn.) got the Cardinals on the board in the game's 60th minute, but could get no closer.
Chris Williams (Chicago, Ill.) finished with 11 saves for the Cardinals, while Leif Sundberg finished with nine saves in goal for the Royals.
SMU (2-4 overall, 0-1 MIAC) are back in action on Saturday, as the Cardinals host Carleton in a 1 p.m. conference match at Ochrymowycz Field.
