WINONA, Minn. — Scoring goals against Saint John's has not come easy for the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team of late.
 
And, unfortunately for the Cardinals, Saturday was no different.
 
The Cardinals, who entered their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup against SJU having netted just two goals in their previous four meetings — both coming in a 2-1 win over the Johnnies on April 21, 2021 — managed just a solo goal against the Johnnies this time around.
 
And one goal would not be enough, as Saint John's scored two goals less than nine minutes apart early in the second half in dealing the Cardinals a 2-1 conference setback at Ochrymowycz Field.
 
Cohan Hare (New Richmond, Wis.) converted a free kick with less than two minutes remaining in the first half — delivering a laser that eluded the outstretched arms of SJU goalkeeper Sam Steil and gave Saint Mary's a 1-0 lead at the break.
 
Unfortunately, Hare's goal — and the 15-minute intermission — proved to be a wake-up call for the Johnnie offense.
 
SJU's Carter Hermanson beat SMU goalkeeper Daniel Sessler (Brookfield, Ill.) high-right in the 62nd minute to knot the game at 1-1, and Andrew Pitzner added another Johnnie tally nine minutes later to give Saint John's the lead for good.
 
Sessler finished with a season-high eight saves between the pipes for the Cardinals, while Steil stopped four of the Cardinals' five shots on goal.
 
The Cardinals (0-2-0 MIAC, 3-3-1 overall) are right back in action — and right back on their home turf at Ochrymowycz Field — on Sunday, as SMU entertains Nebraska Wesleyan in a 2 p.m. nonconference contest.
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