MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's came from behind against LMU last week to earn a point with a late first half goal. They went on to outshoot the Lions 7-6 and were very solid defensively for one of their cleaner matches in recent weeks. They enter play this week with an 0-1-1 conference record and will have a chance to secure their first WCC win against Oregon State on Wednesday and Santa Clara Saturday night. 

GAME INFORMATION AND COVERAGE 

 

	vs.
Wednesday, October 9th | 3:00 PM
Saint Mary's Stadium | Moraga, Calif.
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	vs.
Saturday, October 12th | 7:00 PM
Stevens Stadium | Santa Clara, Calif.
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GAELS OUTLOOK

After surrendering the lead in the 35th minute, the Gaels would answer with another quick transition goal from senior forward Wade Muttitt. Muttitt would come off the bench for the Gaels after starting his last eight matches and be a nice spark plug offensively. The LMU center back would fail to clear a long ball and Jack Vestberg would pick up the loose ball and play Muttitt in behind the backline. Muttitt took two perfectly weighted touches to get beyond the last defender and fired a right footed shot into the back of the net to equalize in the 40th minute. Muttitt now has two goals on the season and 11 for his SMC career. 

Head coach Adam Cooper made some more defensive changes and went with Nick Strangio and Jackson Fyda in the team's backline. Fyda has made the most of his moments on the field and after getting his first start against Sacramento State weeks prior, he has gone on to start in two other matches and be a viable option in the back. Bastian Toelhoej rounded out the backline and freshmen David Christensen and Sebastian Barrios acted as the two wing backs. Saint Mary's put together one of their better defensive performances of the season allowing the one goal and just four shots on frame. The lines were tighter and more compact and Toelhoej, Strangio and Fyda were very solid in the air and on 50/50 challenges. 

Freshman keeper Sam Bentley was only forced to make three saves in the match while the Gaels generated the better chances overall, outshooting the Lions 11-10. Other key performers were midfielder Storm Schmidt-Hollensted and forward Owen Benson. The duo linked up nicely as Benson had a quality hold up presence and Hollensted helped facilitate and play between the defensive lines of LMU. The Gaels will seek their first WCC win of the season against Oregon State on Wednesday.

ABOUT OREGON STATE (WCC)

Oregon State has gotten off to a great start in their inaugural season as a part of the WCC, starting conference play 2-0 with wins over Santa Clara and Pacific. The Beavers bring a 6-2-2 overall record and a five-game unbeaten streak into Wednesday's match, outscoring their opponents 13-4 during that stretch. The Beavers rank amongst the top teams in the conference in goals (18) and goals per game (2.00) and they lead the WCC allowing .89 goals per game. 

Four Beavers were selected to the WCC Preseason Team, as Fran Cortijo, Arnau Farnos, Ellis Spikner and Dante Williams all earned the honor and OSU was picked to finish first in the WCC Preseason Poll. Oregon State is fresh off of their postseason run in 2023 where they punched their ticket to the College Cup for the first time in program history. They finished 11-6-5 overall and rode an eight game unbeaten streak dating back to October 22nd. 

The Beavers and Gaels have only faced off eight times in their series history with Oregon State having won the last meeting in 2021. They are led by head coach Greg Dalby who enters his second year at the helm after leading the Beavers to their best season in program history in 2023. Quality wins this season include UC Irvine, Michigan State and San Diego State and they also earned hard fought draws against Michigan and Seattle U.  

ABOUT SANTA CLARA (WCC)

Santa Clara enters the third week of conference play in tough form as they have lost three of their last four matches. After dropping their conference opener to Oregon State, they were able to head to Portland and come out with a crucial point in a scoreless draw last week. They currently hold a 3-5-2 overall record and like the Gaels, are winless in conference play with an 0-1-1 record. 

Santa Clara is coming off a West Coast Conference Championship season in 2023, finishing the league slate with a 5-1-1 record (7-7-3 overall), to share the conference co-championship with San Diego.The 2024 squad is composed of 29 players including 14 returners and 15 newcomers. Head coach Cam Rast enters his 23rd season at the helm coming off a season in which he was named WCC Coach of the Year for the seventh time (won previously in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2015, & 2021). 

Statistically for the Broncos, Florian Deletioglu and Tyler Tipton each have three goals on the season. Santa Clara has been outscored 15-9 this season and are one of three teams with fewer than ten goals scored on the year. They will seek their first conference win as they host the Gaels this Saturday at 7:00 PM. These two teams did meet in an exhibition match to start the year and the Gaels have taken two of their last three matches dating back to 2021.  

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