EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – After back-to-back shutout loses, the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team finally got back into the goal-scoring department Saturday evening against UW-Eau Claire.
 
Unfortunately, two goals — as many goals as the Cardinals had netted in their previous four games combined — came up one goal short, as UW-Eau Claire broke a 2-2 deadlock with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, lifting the Blugolds to a 3-2 nonconference victory.
 
The Cardinals spotted the Blugolds a 2-0 lead — giving up a Drew Jeffers goal in the 17th minute and another to Will Heinen in the 67th minute — before SMU's offense finally showed signs of life.
 
Roberto Bontempi (Santos, Brazil) cut the Cardinal deficit to 2-1 with his second goal of the season just nine minutes after Heinen's tally. Four minutes later, the Cardinals pulled even, 2-2 — thanks to Eli Szymanski's (La Crosse, Wis.) fourth penalty kick goal of the season.
 
The deadlock did not last long, however, as Carter Thiesfeld netted what proved to be the game-winner with 4:54 remaining in regulation to give UW-Eau Claire its seventh win in nine tries this season.
 
Daniel Sessler (Brookfield, Ill.) was busy between the pipes for the Cardinals, finishing with a career-high 12 saves — including eight in the first half.
 
The Cardinals (3-5-0 overall) return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, heading to St. Peter, Minn., for a 4 p.m. showdown against Gustavus.