MORAGA, Calif. - The Gaels returned to Saint Mary's Stadium in front of a big home crowd Saturday afternoon and were able to come from behind and split the points with LMU in a 1-1 draw. Saint Mary's started the game solid defensively and kept the Lions shotless in the first 30 minutes of the game. They would breakthrough though just five minutes later to take a 1-0 lead.
Wade Muttitt would come off the bench for the Gaels and get his second goal of the year just five minutes later on a great transition moment. The game would hold steady and finish 1-1 as both teams earned their first draw in conference play.
FIRST HALF SMC 1-1 LMU
Saint Mary's and LMU possess a more defensive mindset and that was on clear display in the first half as only two shots were taken in the first 34 minutes of the match, both by the Gaels. The Lions would get on the board though off a corner kick in the 35th minute that bounced around and found the right foot of Daniel Idiakhoa. The Gaels have struggled to defend set pieces throughout the season and despite having a balanced start to the game, found themselves down a goal 35 minutes in.
The Gaels didn't hang their head for long though as
Wade Muttitt capitalized on a Lions turnover in their defensive half and got played in for a one-on-one opportunity from senior midfielder
Jack Vestberg. Muttitt took two perfectly weighted touches to speed past the Lions center back and then fired a right footed shot into the far corner of the net to ignite the crowd and tie the match at one a piece.
Both teams finished the first half with four shots and freshman keeper
Sam Bentley was not tested outside of the Lions goal, not making a save in the first 45 minutes.
FINAL SMC 1-1 LMU
The second half was evenly contested once again but the Gaels came away with the better chances, outshooting the Lions 7-6 and forcing five saves. Bentley was forced to make three saves in the half and his biggest one came in the 62nd minute after a loose ball in the box was fired high and to his right and he would leap to push it wide.
Senior midfielder
Storm Schmidt Hollensted would have a very productive game, finishing with three shots and two on goal. He would force crucial saves from LMU's keeper in the second half as the Gaels threatened in the opening ten minutes of the half. Sophomore
Justin Sosa also came off the bench and recorded three shots with two on frame. In the 83rd minute, Sosa got played into the right side of the penalty box and fired a shot high and to the near post that was punched out for an ensuing Gaels corner kick. Saint Mary's would put up two more shots in the closing minutes but the game would end in a 1-1 draw, the first of conference play for both teams.
Center backs
Nick Strangio and
Jackson Fyda returned to the starting lineup and played all 90 minutes to help hold the Lions to ten shots and just four on goal. The Gaels have not won a match since late August but earn a much needed point in conference play to start a four-game slate over the next nine days.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's improves to 1-5-4 overall and 0-1-1 in WCC play. They will return to Saint Mary's stadium next week for another WCC match against Oregon State. Kickoff is slated for Wednesday, October 9th at 3:00 PM, catch all the action on ESPN+ and get your tickets at smcgaels.com/tickets.
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