WINONA, Minn. — He's the king of the penalty kick for a reason — Jack Hurley (Homewood, Ill.) doesn't miss.
 
And the senior could not have picked a more opportune moment to net his fourth penalty kick goal of the season — and program-record seventh of his collegiate career — scoring the game's only goal in the 70th minute, lifting the Saint Mary's men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Concordia Saturday afternoon at Ochrymowycz Field.
 
Hurley's tally not only earned the Cardinals their first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win of the season, but also ended a 24-game conference winless drought (0-22-2), dating back to a 4-1 win over Hamline on Oct. 26, 2019.
 
For the first 69 minutes, the Cardinals and Cobbers found themselves mired in a defensive stalemate, with neither team able to mount any sustained offensive pressure.
 
But when you have a lethal weapon like Hurley, all it takes is one miscue.
 
And the Cobbers committed that miscue with less than 21 minutes remaining in regulation — and Hurley pounced, delivering a perfect strike into the upper left-hand corner to give SMU all the offense it would need.
 
Daniel Sessler (Brookfield, Ill.) — the reigning MIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week — did his part, stopping both Cobber shots he faced in recording his second shutout of the season.
 
The Cardinals (1-2-0 MIAC, 5-3-2 overall) are back in action on Tuesday, heading to St. Peter, Minn., for a 4 p.m. MIAC showdown against Gustavus.
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