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WINONA, Minn. — On paper, the Saint Mary's University and Concordia men's soccer teams entered Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game as near-mirror images of each other.

The Cobbers headed to Ochrymowycz Field with a 1-3 conference record — including Tuesday's 3-0 loss to St. Thomas, one of two teams unbeaten in league play.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, also took the field with a 1-3 conference record — including Tuesday's 3-0 loss to Gustavus, one of two teams unbeaten in league play.

That was on paper.

On the field, it was the Cardinals who held the upper hand — thanks to Jaime Zepeda (Chicago, Ill.).

Zepeda scored a pair of goals six minutes apart early in the second half, fueling the Cardinals to a 2-1 conference win over the Cobbers at Ochrymowycz Field.

The first half was a goaltenders' battle, as SMU's Christian Van Dam (Linovia, Mich.) and Peter Runquist followed the theme of the day, as the duo mirrored each other with two saves apiece in a scoreless first half.

Enter Zepeda.

The Cardinal freshman netted his first collegiate goal in the second minute of the second half to break the 0-0 deadlock, then added his second six minutes later on an assist from Cody Balogh (Batavia, Ill.) to give SMU a 2-0 advantage.

Jared Rice foiled Van Dam's shutout bid with his fourth of the season with 16 minutes remaining in regulation, but Van Dam & Co. held off a furious Cobber onslaught in the waning minutes to seal the victory.

Van Dam finished the afternoon with three saves, while Runquist stopped eight SMU shots for the Cobbers.

The Cardinals (2-3-0 MIAC, 4-6-0 overall) are back in action on Wednesday, when they step out of conference play for a 6 p.m. game against Buena Vista at Ochrymowycz Field.