MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's hosted their final home game of the regular season on Saturday but failed to complete the comeback, falling 3-2 to bay area rival San Francisco.
The Dons got off to a quick 3-0 lead with all three goals coming in the first twenty minutes of the first half. The Gaels would respond though with their first goal coming off the right foot of
Cade Cowan in the 28th minute and then a second half goal from
Justin Sosa to make it a one goal game. Despite putting up eleven shots in the second half, they would fail to get the equalizer as San Francisco held on for the 3-2 victory.
FIRST HALF SMC 1-3 USF
The Dons have surged in the second half of their season and came into today's match in third place in the WCC standings. They put on a show in the first half with three goals including a stellar finish from San Francisco's David Raphael in the 18th minute. Despite the deficit Saint Mary's would settle into the game nicely and get a stellar goal of their own from senior midfielder
Cade Cowan.
Cowan netted his first goal of the season and the fifth of his Gaels career. He would bend a beautiful shot into the top right corner to ignite the crowd and help spark the comeback. Saint Mary's recorded just one less shot than San Francisco in the opening 45 minutes and entered the half down 3-1.
FINAL SMC 2-3 USF
Just ten minutes into the second half, the Gaels would cut the deficit to just one with a goal from
Justin Sosa, his second of the season. Cowan would whip in a ball from the far side off a free kick and sophomore defender
Emmanuel Duran would play the loose ball and play a square pass to Sosa who finished first time on the near post. Duran would record his first assist and point as a Gael.
Saint Mary's would pepper the goal with eleven second half shots but the Dons keeper ended the match with five saves to hang on for the one goal victory.
Fynn Allmon,
Jackson Fyda,
Luke Lawrence and
Cade Cowan played all 90 minutes for the Gaels while seniors
Sebastian Ramirez and
Jack Landreth each got a half in goal in their final game at Saint Mary's Stadium.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's falls to 2-8-6 overall and 1-3-3 in WCC play after their 3-2 defeat to San Francisco on senior day. They will conclude the 2024 season on the road next week against Pacific on Saturday, November 16th. Tickets can be bought online at smcgaels.com and you can stream the game live on ESPN+.
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