NEW ULM, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's soccer team kicks off its 2016 schedule on Thursday, traveling to Martin Luther for a 5 p.m. nonconference game against the Knights.
 
The Matchup:
• Saint Mary's Cardinals (2015: 6-9-3 Overall) at Martin Luther Knights (2015: 7-10-1 Overall)
 
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Last Action:
•  Today's game is the season-opener for both the Cardinals and the Knights
 
Saint Mary's vs. Martin Luther—Their Last Meeting:
• October 21, 2015 * Winona, Minn.: After scoring just two goals in their last three games, the Cardinals erupted for three goals—including two by Chris Beiersdorf (Arlington Heights, Ill.)—in handing Martin Luther a 3-0 nonconference setback at Ochrymowycz Field | Recap
 
Up Next:
• Saint Mary's: The Cardinals are back in action on Sunday, heading to Chicago, Ill., for an 11 a.m. nonconference game against North Park.
• Martin Luther: The Knights head to Milwaukee, Wis., this weekend, squaring off against Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday and Wisconsin Lutheran on Sunday as part of the Wisconsin Lutheran Warrior Cup.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2016 Roster | 2016 Statistics | 2016 Schedule
• The Cardinals closed out the season with a 6-9-3 overall record in 2015, going 2-1-1 in their final four games—including a season-ending 3-0 victory over Finlandia on Nov. 1. … In their first seasons in a Cardinal uniform, Chris Trussel (Wenatchee, Wash.) and Chris Beiersdorf (Arlington Heights, Ill.) were both named honorable-mention All-MIAC a year ago. … Five of the Cardinals' six wins a year ago were by shutout, while nine of Saint Mary's 18 contests were decided by shutout. … Trussel, Jim Dreshar (Hugo, Minn.), and Jared Wolt (Farmington, Minn.) shared the team lead in goals with four each. … Trussel also led the team in points with 11, two more than Dreshar. … Andrew Jaworski (Racine, Wis.) closed out his senior season with a team-best four assists. … Beiersdorf recorded his first collegiate multiple-goal game with two goals against Martin Luther on Oct. 21, becoming the third Cardinal with a two-goal game last season—Wolt notched his first collegiate two-goal game vs. Simpson on Sept. 23, while Kareem Rassas (Lake In The Hills, Ill.) recorded his first two-goal outing as a Cardinal against Cornell on Sept. 4. … Cody Balogh (Batavia, Ill.) scored on a penalty kick vs. St. Olaf on Oct. 17—it was the Cardinals' only PK of the season. Saint Mary's opponents converted both of their penalty kicks last season. … The Cardinals' 30 goals a year ago came from 14 different players. … Beiersdorf, Trussel, and Sean Butcher (Cave Creek, Ariz.) all scored their first collegiate goals last season. … GK Evan Claffy (Joliet, Ill.) recorded a seven-save shutout in his final collegiate game vs. Finlandia on Nov. 1. … Claffy finished with four shutouts last season and five for his collegiate career. … Claffy led the team with 54 saves a year ago, while owning a 1.29 goals-against-average. … Claffy made a combined 14 saves—six vs. Bethel and eight against Gustavus—in posting back-to-back shutouts on Sept. 26 and Sept. 29. … GK Nate Levy (Byron, Minn.)—who posted a career-high 10 saves in the Cardinals' loss to Carleton on Oct. 31—notched his second collegiate shutout with a one-save effort against Bethany Lutheran on Oct. 7. … Levy also teamed with Alberto Centeno (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) on a pair of shutouts last season. … Saint Mary's put an end to a six-game losing streak against St. Thomas with its 1-1 tie against the Tommies on Oct. 24.  … The Cardinals played four overtime games last season—boasting a 2-0-2 record. … Saint Mary's 1-1 deadlock at St. Thomas on Oct. 24 was the Cardinals' third tie of the season. It's the most ties since Saint Mary's had three ties during the 2004 campaign. … The three MIAC ties were also the most since the Cardinals went 2-4-4 in conference play in 1994. … Eight of the Cardinals' last 10 wins have come on their home turf. … With its 1-1 tie against St. Thomas, eight of Saint Mary's last 11 games were decided by one goal or less. … Three of the Cardinals' last five losses were 2-1 decisions. … The Cardinals did not allow a shot on goal in their 7-0 win over Cornell on Sept. 4, while allowing just one shot on goal vs. Bethany Lutheran on Oct. 7. … Saint Mary's seven goals vs. Cornell on Sept. 4 were the most since the Cardinals netted a school-record 11 goals in an 11-1 victory over Presentation on Sept. 1, 2013. … The Cardinals' 2-1 loss to Concordia on Oct. 3 snapped their season-high three-game unbeaten streak (1-0-2). … Saint Mary's 2-1 loss to Concordia also snapped a streak of three straight overtime games for the Cardinals, who beat Simpson 3-2 in OT on Sept. 23, and followed that up with back-to-back 0-0 double-overtime ties vs. Bethel (Sept. 19) and Gustavus (Sept. 29). … The Cardinals' 3-2 win over Simpson on Sept. 23 was Saint Mary's first overtime win since beating Saint John's 1-0 on Oct. 24, 2009—snapping a string of 12 overtime games without a win (0-7-5). … The Cardinals' ties vs. Bethel and Gustavus marked the first time since the 1994 season that Saint Mary's posted back-to-back 0-0 draws. … The Cardinals' 5-0 and 7-0 wins over Viterbo and Cornell, respectively, to open the season marked the first time since 2012 that Saint Mary's has recorded back-to-back shutout wins. Saint Mary's blanked Buena Vista (1-0) and Hamline (1-0) on Oct. 3 and Oct. 6, 2012.  
 
 Scouting The Martin Luther Knights:
2016 Roster | 2016 Statistics | 2016 Schedule
• The Knights are coming off a 7-10-1 season in 2015, including a 3-6-1 showing in UMAC action. … Six of Martin Luther's seven wins last season came at home, where the Vikings were 6-4-1—MLC was 1-6-1 on the road in 2015. … Martin Luther closed out the season a year ago with a 3-2 win over Crown—a win that snapped the Vikings' season-high six-game losing streak. The Vikings were outscored 27-0 during that six-game slide. … MLC had three players named All-UMAC Second-Team a year ago—Aaron Swanson, Aaron Markgraf, and Micah Koelpin. Swanson was also tabbed as the UMAC's Rookie of the Year. … Swanson finished his first year as a Viking with a team-high 11 goals, while also leading the team in points (26), shots (55), and shots on goal (35). … Swanson's 11 goals were the most by an MLC player in a single season since 2008. … Margraf finished second to Swanson in both goals (7) and points (15), while Koelpin amassed a team-high six assists. … Swanson and Markgraf each scored a team-leading two game-winning goals. … Caleb King started all 18 games in goal for the Vikings last season, compiling a 2.60 goals-against-average and .737 save percentage. … King finished the year with 123 saves and owned a pair of shutouts. … Martin Luther scored 19 of its 28 goals after halftime in 2015. … MLC was outscored 27-9 in the first half last season. … The Vikings played three overtime games a year ago—beating UM-Morris (1-0), falling to Bethany Lutheran (1-0), and tying Northland (0-0).