MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's welcomed Oregon State to Moraga Wednesday afternoon and after a solid start defensively, the Beavers broke through in the 27th minute to take a one goal lead. They would go on to double their lead in the 56th minute with a transition goal as they outshot the Gaels 12-7 in the match. The Gaels would respond with two of their best offensive chances of the game following the second goal and apply plenty of pressure in the final 15 minutes of regulation, but OSU would secure the two goal victory to improve to 3-0 in conference play.
FIRST HALF SMC 0-1 OSU
Both teams combined for just seven shots in the first half and the Beavers had their way offensively as they held nearly 65% of the possession. Despite that, the Gaels backline was very composed as
Bastian Toelhoej,
Nick Strangio and
Jackson Fyda all got the start again in today's match.
In the 27th minute, Oregon State would get down the left side of the box and play a cutback ball towards the penalty spot that was fired first time into the roof of the net by Farno Arnau. Saint Mary's did not allow a shot the rest of the first half to keep the deficit at one and remain well in the game at the break. Redshirt freshman
Kolby Fish Sessions would make his second start of the season in goal and senior forward
Tyler Hardin would see his name in the starting lineup for the first time since September 15th to earn his third of the year.
FINAL SMC 0-2 OSU
It would take just ten minutes for the Beavers to double their lead in the second half as they scored in transition and with an eventual shot from the top of the box that deflected and found the bottom corner. Following the goal, the Gaels would show no quit and play some of their best soccer of the match generating five shots.
Their best chance of the match came in the 74th minute off a dangerous cross from forward
Wade Muttitt to the back post.
Maxwell Farnum would gather the ball on the end line and cut back into the box around the keeper but tug the shot wide left.
Just a couple minutes later, Hardin would go on a nice individual run on the far side and get taken down to draw a yellow card for the Beaver defender. Hardin would serve in a dangerous ball and after a failed clearance, sophomore
Fynn Allmon would find the ball at his feet and fire a left footed shot through traffic but saw it trickle wide of the right post.
The Gaels finished with just two fewer shots than the Beavers in the second half and had quality chances to get on the scoreboard and even potentially tie the game. The Oregon State keeper was untested though as he did not record a save in the match with shot attempts narrowly missing the frame. Toelhoej, Fyda, and outside back
Ian Smith played all 90 minutes for the Gaels as they have built some nice consistency within their backline. Despite the two goals, Sessions made several acrobatic saves to finish with a game high three saves. In his two appearances on the year he brings his save total to eleven after his eight-save performance against San Jose State.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's falls to 1-6-4 overall and 0-2-1 in WCC play. They will head to the South Bay to take on Santa Clara on Saturday, October 12th at 7:00 PM. Catch all the action on ESPN+ and get your tickets at smcgaels.com.
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