Saturday, September 28
San Diego, CA
7:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
1-5-3, 0-1-0
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San Diego
7-1-2, 1-0-0
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F
Saint Mary's (CA)
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San Diego
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#12 Jude Zamora, 49 MP
MSOC | Toelhoej and Ruzmir Record Goals in 4-2 Defeat to San Diego in WCC Opener
9/28/2024 9:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Saint Mary's kicked off WCC action Saturday night and battled the reigning conference champs in San Diego. The Gaels scored twice on the night but fought their way to a 4-2 defeat to the 21st ranked Toreros to record their first loss of the 2024 conference season. Bastian Toelhoej and BJ Ruzmir scored the two goals for Saint Mary's but San Diego was able to net two goals in each half to seal the victory and move to 1-0 in conference play.
FIRST HALF SMC 1-2 USD
The Saint Mary's defense kept the 21st ranked Toreros off the scoreboard for the first 20 minutes of the match but they would finally breakthrough in the 21st minute with a corner kick goal. Freshman keeper Sam Bentley returned to the starting lineup for the Gaels and made the initial save on the header attempt but San Diego hammered home the rebound to take a one goal lead. Just eight minutes later the Toreros would take advantage of a turnover in the Gaels defensive half. They would fly down the left side and put in a cross to the near post that was hammered into the roof of the net off a one time finish to double their lead.
Head coach Adam Cooper and his squad are no strangers to playing from behind as they rallied down 2-0 earlier this season to score two second half goals against Dartmouth. They would answer the bell just before the half as junior forward Maxwell Farnum earned a penalty for the Gaels in the 40th minute. Once again, veteran Bastian Toelhoej would step up and convert his third penalty of the season to bring Saint Mary's within a goal. Toelhoej moved back to center back for tonight's match as he has started all nine games this season.
FINAL SMC 2-4 USD
San Diego would continue to flex their offensive efficiency this season as they netted two more goals in the second half, one in the 58th minute and the other in the 70th minute. The Gaels would continue to battle though as they got one of their best goals of the season just seven minutes later from junior transfer BJ Ruzmir. Ruzmir hammered a right footed volley into the roof of the net after a failed clearance from a San Diego defender. He got his second start of the season last week against San Jose State and was very effective in the Gaels midfield, he finished tonight's match with 21 minutes off the bench. The Toreros would eventually hang on for the 4-2 victory and outshoot the Gaels 27-7 in the match. Bentley finished with a game high six saves on the night and senior midfielder Cade Cowan took another positive step as he made his second start and played all 90 minutes in the Gaels midfield.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's falls to 1-5-3 overall and 0-1 in WCC play. They will return to Saint Mary's stadium next week for a home doubleheader with the women. The men will take on LMU on Saturday, October 5th starting at 1:00 PM. Catch all the action on ESPN+ and get your tickets at smcgaels.com/tickets.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
FIRST HALF SMC 1-2 USD
The Saint Mary's defense kept the 21st ranked Toreros off the scoreboard for the first 20 minutes of the match but they would finally breakthrough in the 21st minute with a corner kick goal. Freshman keeper Sam Bentley returned to the starting lineup for the Gaels and made the initial save on the header attempt but San Diego hammered home the rebound to take a one goal lead. Just eight minutes later the Toreros would take advantage of a turnover in the Gaels defensive half. They would fly down the left side and put in a cross to the near post that was hammered into the roof of the net off a one time finish to double their lead.
Head coach Adam Cooper and his squad are no strangers to playing from behind as they rallied down 2-0 earlier this season to score two second half goals against Dartmouth. They would answer the bell just before the half as junior forward Maxwell Farnum earned a penalty for the Gaels in the 40th minute. Once again, veteran Bastian Toelhoej would step up and convert his third penalty of the season to bring Saint Mary's within a goal. Toelhoej moved back to center back for tonight's match as he has started all nine games this season.
Bastian Toelhoej converts his third penalty of the season to make it a one goal game against #21 San Diego 😤⚽️ #GaelsRise @WCCsports pic.twitter.com/xMaRYQzNZ0
— Saint Mary's Men's Soccer (@SMC_MSoccer) September 29, 2024
FINAL SMC 2-4 USD
San Diego would continue to flex their offensive efficiency this season as they netted two more goals in the second half, one in the 58th minute and the other in the 70th minute. The Gaels would continue to battle though as they got one of their best goals of the season just seven minutes later from junior transfer BJ Ruzmir. Ruzmir hammered a right footed volley into the roof of the net after a failed clearance from a San Diego defender. He got his second start of the season last week against San Jose State and was very effective in the Gaels midfield, he finished tonight's match with 21 minutes off the bench. The Toreros would eventually hang on for the 4-2 victory and outshoot the Gaels 27-7 in the match. Bentley finished with a game high six saves on the night and senior midfielder Cade Cowan took another positive step as he made his second start and played all 90 minutes in the Gaels midfield.
Massive save from Sam Bentley in the 55th minute to keep it a one goal game 👏👏 #GaelsRise @WCCsports pic.twitter.com/fYU9zpSDBr
— Saint Mary's Men's Soccer (@SMC_MSoccer) September 29, 2024
BJ Ruzmir!! Ruzmir gets his first goal as a Gael and makes it a 4-2 game against San Diego with a sweet volley in the 77th minute! 🔥⚽️ #GaelsRise @WCCsports pic.twitter.com/4bwy0BtI9z
— Saint Mary's Men's Soccer (@SMC_MSoccer) September 29, 2024
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's falls to 1-5-3 overall and 0-1 in WCC play. They will return to Saint Mary's stadium next week for a home doubleheader with the women. The men will take on LMU on Saturday, October 5th starting at 1:00 PM. Catch all the action on ESPN+ and get your tickets at smcgaels.com/tickets.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
SMC
USD
Goals
2
4
Shots
7
27
Shots on Goal
4
10
Saves
6
2
Corners
2
8
Fouls
9
10
Scoring Plays
Ethan Warne (1)
Assisted By: Trevor Dillon
Right-sided corner kick by 8 headed from straight on by 12; goalie saved and rebound roofed left-footed from inside 6 yards
20:03
Samy Kanaan (6)
Assisted By: Luca Fava
Clearance attempt picked off by 10 and played to 24; left-footed cross from left one-timed right-footed into upper right from 6 yards
27:56
Bastian Toelhoej (2)
Right-footed penalty kick into bottom left after 6 fouled 22 on right end line
39:56
Steven Ramirez (2)
Assisted By: Donovan Parisian
Deep ball by goalkeeper bounced through middle; 9 rounded goalie and tapped right-footed into open net from close range
57:05
Cesar Bahena (5)
Assisted By: Oliver Rhoades , Owen Walz
Long pass by 7 ultimately shot left-footed by 11 from 18 yards into bottom right with goalie touch
69:59
BJ Ruzmir (1)
Left-sided cross by 9 headed clear but right to 23, who shot right-footed low from 8 yards
76:28
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
mid
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerMF
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