MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Men's Soccer got back in the win column on Sunday, outlasting UC Davis 3-1 on a hot afternoon at Saint Mary's Stadium to improve to 2-2 on the season.
 
NEW LOOK
The Gaels again experimented with a different lineup in their fourth game of the season as they work in 16 newcomers to the roster for 2022. After a back-and-forth first half where each team seemed to feel each other out and had opportunities that defense snuffed out, the chances increased in the second half.
 
Jack Landreth got the start in goal and made the first big highlight reel save of his Gaels career in the 61st minute, with a right-legged kick save on a shot from the upper left corner of the six-yard box. The big save from the Cal State Eastbay transfer seemed to spark SMC, as they broke the scoreless tie just four minutes later.
 
FAMILIAR SCORERS
Riley Lynch and Jack Vestberg combined on a beautiful give-and-go that set up Vestberg for a left-footed shot he buried just inside the right post for a 1-0 lead in the 66th minute. It was Vestberg's second goal of the season and Lynch's second assist.
 
Saint Mary's would make it 2-0 shortly after that in the 70th minute. Omar Yehya fed a ball to the top of the penalty area to Gael Quintero who put a left-footed shot on goal. The UC Davis keeper had to make a diving stop to his left, and the ball ended up on the foot of Timothy Stephens. The Las Vegas native put a cross towards the goal mouth that an Aggies defender attempted to clear, but he would put it into right-side of the net for an own goal.
 
The Aggies would get one back off one of their seven corner kicks on the day. A well-placed cross was headed in the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game in the 79th minute.
 
CLOSING IT OUT
But the Gaels would answer in the 84th minute to get their two-goal lead back for good. Wade Muttitt took the ball away from an Aggies defender and took a hit in the process.
 
The ball made its way to Cade Cowan who moved ahead where SMC had a three-on-two opportunity. Cowan passed it off to Lynch who faked a shot, then blasted one with his left foot that caromed off a defender into the net for his first goal of the season, putting the Gaels up 3-1 to seal the win.
 
Saint Mary's out shot UC Davis 9-6 and 3-2 on shots on goal. It was a very crisp game with good sportsmanship all around, as no cards were issued and there were no contentious moments between the two teams.
 
UP NEXT:
The Gaels begin a stretch of eight straight matches away from Saint Mary's Stadium as they play at San Jose State on Thursday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m.