ROCXKFORD, Ill. — It was a tale of two halves for the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team Sunday afternoon.
 
In the first half, the Cardinals could do no wrong, finding the back of the net twice in their nonconference game against Rockford.
 
Over the game's final 45 minutes, however, it was the Regents who boasted the golden touch, as Rockford scored twice, including the game-tying goal with less than six minutes remaining in regulation, as Saint Mary's settled for its second tie in as many games, battling Rockford to a 2-2 stalemate.
 
Saint Mary's did not waste any time getting its offense on track, scoring twice in the game's first 14 minutes.
 
Rolando Lopez (Berwyn, Ill.) kicked off the scoring with his first collegiate goal in the third minute, and Jacob Clements (Holmen, Wis.) answered 10 minutes later to push SMU's lead to 2-0.
 
That, however, would be the extent of the Cardinals' offense.
 
And Rockford was just getting warmed up.
 
The Regents pulled within one on a goal by Javier Palocios in the 61st minute, and Joshua De Avila beat SMU goalkeeper Jacob Wing (Verona, Wis.) in the 84th minute to end the game in a 2-2 deadlock.
 
Daniel Sessler (Brookfield, Ill.) started the game in goal for the Cardinals, stopping all four shots he faced in 60 minutes of play, while Wing made three saves in relief.
 
The Cardinals (1-0-2 overall) are back in action on Wednesday, when they play host to Ripon in a 7 p.m. nonconference game at Ochrymowycz Field.