WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's soccer coach Corbin Bowers needed just one word to sum up Wednesday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Gustavus: "Finally."
 
It only took two goals—and 31 games—but the Cardinals finally found a way to beat Gustavus.
 
Saint Mary's scored single goals in each half, and goalkeeper Nate Levy (Byron, Minn.) stopped the only Gustie shot he faced, as the Cardinals put an end to a 31-game winless streak against Gustavus with a 2-0 victory at Ochrymowycz Field.
 
"The guys put in an unbelievable team performance—I am extremely proud of our group," said Bowers, whose Cardinals beat GAC for the first time since a 3-0 home win during the 1985 season­—a span of 31 games in which Saint Mary's went 0-26-5. "We scored two fantastic goals and had a solid defensive performance. It feels great to end that (31-game) streak."
 
Garrett Grunke (Verona, Minn.) got the Cardinals off and running, scoring his third goal of the season just nine minutes into the opening half. Saint Mary's would maintain that one-goal lead through the rest of the first half and well into the second.
 
In the 73^rd minute, Sean Butcher (Cave Creek, Ariz.) gave Saint Mary's some breathing room—and all but sealed the streak-snapping win—with his team-leading seventh goal of the season off an assist from Charles Reit (Arcadia, Wis.).
 
Thanks to a smothering Saint Mary's defense, Levy was not over-worked in goal for the Cardinals, needing to make just one save—midway through the second half—en route to his first shutout of the season and sixth of his collegiate career.
 
The Cardinals (2-4-0 MIAC, 8-6-0 overall)—who moved within one point of the sixth and final MIAC Playoff spot with four conference games remaining—return to action on Saturday, heading to St. Paul, Minn., for a 1 p.m. MIAC showdown against Hamline at Paterson Field.