By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — Carleton put the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team on its heels during the teams' Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown Wednesday afternoon — scoring less than three minutes into the first half.
 
 It wasn't giving up that early goal that hampered the Cardinals — they had an answer for that.
 
It was Carleton's other offensive tallies that Saint Mary's could not answer.
 
The Knights scored three unanswered goals — one in the first half and two more in the second — as Carleton dealt the Cardinals a 4-1 conference setback at Bell Field.
 
Jason Crammer did not wait long to ignite the offensive fireworks, scoring in the second minute.
 
The 1-0 lead did not last long, as Josh Balsiger (Camas, Wash.) recorded his seventh goal of the season — matching his single-season career-high — in the 20th minute to pull the Cardinals even, 1-1.
 
Carleton quickly regained the lead on a goal by Charlie Hall just four minutes after Balsiger's tally — and added a pair of second half goals by Marco du Cunha and Tommy Akon to seal the win.
 
Sam Morris (Hockinson, Wash.) — making his fifth start of the season — equaled his career high with five saves in goal for the Cardinals, while Carleton goalkeeper Aaron Forman stopped four of Saint Mary's five shots.
 
The Cardinals (2-4-0 MIAC, 5-8-0 overall) return home on Saturday for Senior Day, playing host to Concordia in a 1 p.m. conference contest. The Knights (3-1-1 MIAC, 10-2-1 overall), meanwhile, take to the road on Saturday, heading to St. Peter, Minn., for a 1 p.m. MIAC matchup against Gustavus.