MSOC | Restani Powers No. 4 Gaels Past LMU, 3-2

Sunday, October 28

Los Angeles, CA

2:00 p.m. PT

Saint Mary's College of California

15-0-1, 4-0-1WCC

Loyola Marymount

5-11, 2-3WCC

Saint Mary's

LMU

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

MSOC | Restani Powers No. 4 Gaels Past LMU, 3-2

10/28/2018 7:41:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Joseph Restani had two goals in No. 4 Saint Mary's thrilling 3-2 road win against the Lions.

LOS ANGELES — After pulling ahead by three goals in the first half, No. 4 Saint Mary's held on against a strong Loyola Marymount attack to escape Sullivan Field with a 3-2 win and maintain their undefeated season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
It didn't take long for the Gaels (15-0-1, 4-0-1 WCC) to take the lead against the Lions (5-11, 2-3 WCC) as Joseph Restani earned his fifth goal of the season in the ninth minute. A scramble in the box allowed Restani to take possession and fire a sharp angle shot that snuck in just past the right post for the early goal. Only 75 seconds later, Restani doubled Saint Mary's lead on a breakaway goal off a cross from Jake Rudel.

Not long after, Rudel teed up another through ball to connect with Anders Engebretsen for the junior's eighth goal of the year in the 24th minute. Rudel and Engebretsen have been the Gaels' top two scorers this season as Rudel has 29 points (12 G, 5 A) and Engebretsen has 22 (8 G, 6 A).

While Saint Mary's dominated the opening half, the same couldn't be said about the final 45 minutes as LMU clawed their way back into the game with two second-half goals. Jack Sauls headed a cross into the net in the 70th minute to spoil the Gaels' shutout bid and then Alex Liu cut the deficit to just one in the 78th win his first goal of the season.

With time winding down, Remi Prieur made a fantastic save on a point blank chance by Matthew Gooden in the 84th minute to keep the Gaels ahead and seal the victory. Prieur faced 12 of the Lions' 17 total shots in the second half and was forced to make eight saves in the game, his highest in a match this season.

Engebretsen nearly iced the game for the Gaels late in the match as a counter attack led to a quality scoring opportunity but his shot glanced just wide of the right post.

THOUGHTS FROM ADAM COOPER

"I was very proud of the men today. We had to grind and grind and in the end, it was enough for three big points and four for the weekend."

QUICK FACTS

Restani led the Gaels with four shots in the match.
Along with Rudel, Valentin Sponer also had two assists in the match on SMC's first and third goals.
Sunday's match was only the second time all-season that the Gaels have been outshot by their opponents (Aug. 31 vs. Marist)
Restani is now tied for third in goals (6) on the team despite only playing in seven matches this year. He also leads the team in conference goals with five.
SMC has now won four of their last five matches against the Lions.

UP NEXT: SENIOR DAY VS GONZAGA

No. 4 Saint Mary's returns to Moraga on Nov. 4 for their final home match of the regular season. The Gaels will honor their lone senior, Stephen Dougherty, before the match as part of Senior Day festivities. More information about the match can be found on the Gaels' schedule page.