MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Men's Soccer pulled out a late win on Friday evening at Saint Mary's Stadium, getting a goal from Tyler Hardin in the 88th minute to defeat Dartmouth 2-1.
 
It was the Gaels (2-1) first ever meeting with the Big Green (0-1) from the Ivy League, but the match felt like an old rivalry, with a fast pace and plenty of physicality. SMC fell behind in the 25th minute on a well struck goal from the top of the box off the right foot of Vasilis Moiras into the top right corner of the net for a 1-0 Dartmouth lead.
 
Saint Mary's would come out in a higher gear however in the second half, on their way to a season-high, 12-shot half with seven of those shots on frame.
 
Hardin was credited with the equalizing goal as well in the 48th minute. Riley Lynch swung a pass out to Hardin to the right of the 18-yard box. The senior from Maple Valley, Wash. would put a shot on goal that deflected off of a Dartmouth defender into the net for a 1-1 tie, as he and the keeper had a miscommunication on who was going to play.
 
The Gaels missed going ahead in the 54th minute by inches, as Lynch had a shot go off the left post and roll all the way across the goal without going in, stopping the SMC crowd and players from celebrating.
 
SMC kept the pressure on though, getting five more shots on net before Hardin's go-ahead goal. The Gaels were awarded a foul in the 88th minute that was drawn by Hardin when he was taken down by a Big Green defender in front of the Gaels bench.
 
Luke Lawrence boomed a kick into the penalty area that appeared to carom off a Dartmouth player and the Gaels' Toke Amtrup, right to the feat of Hardin. He blasted a left-footed shot into the lower left corner of the net for his first career brace and the 2-1 lead to seal the win.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels remain at home to take on FDU on Monday, September 4 at 1:00 p.m.