MSOC | No. 23 SMC Powers Past Portland in Regular Season Finale

Saturday, April 17

Portland, OR

1:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

6-2-1, 4-2-1

Portland

3-4-3, 1-3-3

Saint Mary's (CA)

Portland

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

MSOC | No. 23 SMC Powers Past Portland in Regular Season Finale

4/17/2021 7:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PORTLAND — No. 23 Saint Mary's did what it needed to do on Saturday as the Gaels picked up a key 3-1 win over the Pilots to keep their postseason hopes alive. SMC finished the season with a 6-2-1 record and 4-2-1 showing in West Coast Conference play.

The Gaels got off to a hot start in the third minute of play courtesy of Lucas Andrews. The senior received a long aerial pass from Louis Sterobo and controlled the ball past the Pilots' keeper who came way out. Andrews had a gaping net and didn't miss to tally his fourth of the year.

The score remained 1-0 until halftime but the Pilots soon tied things up with a goal in the 59th minute off the foot of Brandon Cambridge.

Saint Mary's would retake the lead in the 68th and did not surrender it for the rest of the contest. As he's done several times this year, Boyd Curry got his head on a cross from a set piece and flicked it into the net for the eventual game-winner. The perfect pass was delivered by Sterobo for his second helper of the match.

Tyler Hardin added an insurance goal in the 76th to ice the win for the Gaels. The freshman was the beneficiary of a rebound off a shot attempt by Andrews and fired into the open net over a sliding Pilots' defender for his second goal this year.

Saint Mary's was outshot 17-8 in the match but made the most of their chances. Despite the discrepancy in shots, the Gaels had more on-goal attempts than the Pilots. SMC goalkeeper Nicholas Lapinid made four saves in goal to pick up the win.

The team will now wait to hear if their name is called on Monday to see if they will be playing in their third straight NCAA Tournament. The field has been reduced from 48 to 32 teams this year and will offer only 14 at-large bids. The selection show will be broadcasted on Monday at 9 a.m. and can be viewed at NCAA.com.

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