MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Men's Soccer equalized against San Diego in the 72nd minute on Saturday, but the Toreros would go back ahead three minutes later for a 2-1 defeat of the Gaels at Saint Mary's Stadium.
 
The match was a defensive stalemate through the first 45 minutes, with the Toreros having a 54 to 46 percent possession-time advantage, though each side had three shots on target.
 
USD broke through 55th minute after Ross Johnstone settled down a cross that was initially headed out of danger by Bastian Toelhoej. Johnstone was able to put his own cross just in front of the six-yard box, where Josh Martinez redirected it on one touch with a right-footed shot into the right corner of the net for a 1-0 San Diego lead.
 
But Saint Mary's would respond in the 72nd minute with a great rush up the field started by Cade Cowan, who worked a give-and-go with Riley Lynch to start the Gaels' run. Cowan sped through the middle of the pitch, starting from just inside the touch line and making it all the way to the USD side of the center circle.
 
Cowan would give the ball to Ian Smith who had it taken away on a very physical tackle, but Cowan hopped right back on it and fired a shot that was blocked by the Toreros. That loose ball would end up with Jude Zamora who shot a right-footed laser beam from 30-yards out that found the left corner of the net for his first goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.
 
However, the Toreros would answer in the 76th minute, after a long kick from the USD keeper set up their possession deep in Gaels territory. An initial shot by Mason Tunbridge was stopped on a sprawling save by Sebastian Ramirez in his first start as a Gael. San Diego would get to the rebound and maintain possession, and Tunbridge set up Rhys Gourdie with a right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area that found the lower left corner of the net past a diving Ramirez to make it 2-1 Toreros.
 
The Gaels would have two more opportunities to try and tie up the game one time. The first on a shot by Justin Sosa that barely missed to the left, and the second on a Wade Muttitt shot from the right of the net that required a diving save by the USD keeper to his left to preserve the San Diego win.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels will head east to take on No. 25 Florida International in Saint Mary's final non-conference matchup of the season.