By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ST. PETER, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's soccer team entered its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener against Gustavus with an offense that was hitting on all cylinders.
 
A nine-goal outburst in a 9-0 drubbing of North Central just two days earlier will do that to a team.
 
Unfortunately, Cardinal head coach Corbin Bowers probably wishes his team could have pocketed a few of those goals to use against the Gusties Saturday, as Gustavus shut down the high-powered Saint Mary's offense en route to a 2-0 conference win at Gustie Soccer Field.
 
Gustavus' Cole Schwartz scored single goals in each half — the first on a penalty kick midway through the first half and the second with 22 minutes remaining in regulation — to deal the Cardinals their first conference loss.
 
Sam Morris (Hockinson, Wash.) — making his first collegiate start — finished with four saves in goal for the Cardinals, while Wesley Sanders matched that effort with four saves between the pipes for the Gusties.
 
The Cardinals (0-1-0 MIAC, 3-3-0 overall) step out of conference play on Wednesday, heading to Indianola, Iowa, for a 6 p.m. showdown against Simpson.