Wednesday, October 15
Moraga, CA
3:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
1-5-5, 1-2-1
2
vs
1
Santa Clara
4-3-6, 1-1-2
1
2
F
Santa Clara
1
0
1
Saint Mary's (CA)
1
1
2
#10 Sam Danner: 35 MP, 1 G (1), 2 SH, scored game-winner in 2-1 win vs. Santa Clara
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MSOC | Danner Bar Down for Game-Winner, Gaels Knock Off Broncos 2-1 for First Win
10/15/2025 6:25:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MORAGA, Calif. - It has been a trying season for the Gaels with tough match after tough match, but they finally got rewarded for their efforts with a 2-1 victory over Santa Clara Wednesday night thanks to a game-winner from first year Gael Sam Danner. Saint Mary's took the lead for the eighth time this season thanks to a header goal from senior captain Bastian Toelhoej in the 10th minute.
Santa Clara equalized just before the half but Saint Mary's caught the Broncos napping to start the second half as Sam Danner scored just a minute and sixteen seconds into the half to give the Gaels a 2-1 lead. The goal would stand as the game-winner for the Gaels for their first win of the 2025 season. Danner's goal would also go down as his first as a Gael while Adam Dring and Jaydon Whittaker got credit for the assists for their first career points. Fynn Allmon, Jona Starek, Bastian Toelhoej, Jaydon Whittaker and TJ Dilley played all 90 minutes for the Gaels.
FIRST HALF SMC 1-1 SCU
The Gaels only recorded three shots in the first half but got on the board first off a corner kick from Cameron Kobey. Kobey served a whipping ball into the front post but after a deflection from a Santa Clara defender, the ball would find the head of Bastian Toelhoej on the back post who buried it for his team leading fifth goal of the season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sam Bentley made a pair of necessary saves over the first 45 minutes to keep the Gaels in front but the Broncos would strike in the blink of an eye to tie the game up just three minutes before halftime. Santa Clara outshot Saint Mary's 5-3 and also had four corner kicks over the first 45 minutes.
FINAL SMC 2-1 SCU
The Gaels are no strangers to gritty matches this season as they came into Wednesday with five draws for second most in the WCC. Despite surrendering the lead late in the first half, they would grab it back within the first two minutes of the second half thanks to a powerful strike from grad transfer Sam Danner.
The Gaels played their way down the right sideline where freshman Adam Dring rifled a cross into the top of the 18-yard box, finding the feet of Danner. Danner turned to avoid a defender and then fired a right-footed shot off the crossbar and down for his first goal of the season to put Saint Mary's back in front 2-1.
The Gaels went on to outshoot the Broncos 8-6 and were also very stout defensively thanks to the likes of Fynn Allmon, TJ Dilley and Jona Starek. Starek was vital for the Gaels with numerous headers and clearances late in the match. Bentley made one save in the 82nd minute but a crucial one, pushing an acrobatic shot wide of the near post to finish the game three saves.
It was a total team effort for Saint Mary's as head coach Adam Cooper played 19 players over the course of the 90 minutes including true freshmen Henry Beatty and Adam Dring. Toelhoej's goal back in the first half was a significant one, marking the tenth of his four-year collegiate career.
LOOKING AHEAD
With their first win of the season, Saint Mary's improved to 1-5-5 overall and 1-2-1 in conference play. They will look for the sweep with a road matchup against LMU on Sunday, October 19th at 4:00 PM. Tickets can be bought online and the match can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Santa Clara equalized just before the half but Saint Mary's caught the Broncos napping to start the second half as Sam Danner scored just a minute and sixteen seconds into the half to give the Gaels a 2-1 lead. The goal would stand as the game-winner for the Gaels for their first win of the 2025 season. Danner's goal would also go down as his first as a Gael while Adam Dring and Jaydon Whittaker got credit for the assists for their first career points. Fynn Allmon, Jona Starek, Bastian Toelhoej, Jaydon Whittaker and TJ Dilley played all 90 minutes for the Gaels.
FIRST HALF SMC 1-1 SCU
The Gaels only recorded three shots in the first half but got on the board first off a corner kick from Cameron Kobey. Kobey served a whipping ball into the front post but after a deflection from a Santa Clara defender, the ball would find the head of Bastian Toelhoej on the back post who buried it for his team leading fifth goal of the season.
10' | SMC 1 - SCU 0
— Saint Mary's Men's Soccer (@SMC_MSoccer) October 15, 2025
Who else but Bastian Toelhoej ‼️
Saint Mary's strikes early and puts up the first goal on the Broncos in conference play to get off to a hot start.#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/za4Y5nNuhV
Sophomore goalkeeper Sam Bentley made a pair of necessary saves over the first 45 minutes to keep the Gaels in front but the Broncos would strike in the blink of an eye to tie the game up just three minutes before halftime. Santa Clara outshot Saint Mary's 5-3 and also had four corner kicks over the first 45 minutes.
FINAL SMC 2-1 SCU
The Gaels are no strangers to gritty matches this season as they came into Wednesday with five draws for second most in the WCC. Despite surrendering the lead late in the first half, they would grab it back within the first two minutes of the second half thanks to a powerful strike from grad transfer Sam Danner.
The Gaels played their way down the right sideline where freshman Adam Dring rifled a cross into the top of the 18-yard box, finding the feet of Danner. Danner turned to avoid a defender and then fired a right-footed shot off the crossbar and down for his first goal of the season to put Saint Mary's back in front 2-1.
47' | SMC 2 - SCU 1
— Saint Mary's Men's Soccer (@SMC_MSoccer) October 15, 2025
Saint Mary's comes out FIRING in the second half 👏
Sam Danner records his first goal as a Gael and SMC is back in the lead!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/IoGGfulh3I
The Gaels went on to outshoot the Broncos 8-6 and were also very stout defensively thanks to the likes of Fynn Allmon, TJ Dilley and Jona Starek. Starek was vital for the Gaels with numerous headers and clearances late in the match. Bentley made one save in the 82nd minute but a crucial one, pushing an acrobatic shot wide of the near post to finish the game three saves.
It was a total team effort for Saint Mary's as head coach Adam Cooper played 19 players over the course of the 90 minutes including true freshmen Henry Beatty and Adam Dring. Toelhoej's goal back in the first half was a significant one, marking the tenth of his four-year collegiate career.
LOOKING AHEAD
With their first win of the season, Saint Mary's improved to 1-5-5 overall and 1-2-1 in conference play. They will look for the sweep with a road matchup against LMU on Sunday, October 19th at 4:00 PM. Tickets can be bought online and the match can be streamed live on ESPN+.
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
SCU
SMC
Goals
1
2
Shots
11
11
Shots on Goal
4
2
Saves
0
3
Corners
7
4
Fouls
11
11
Scoring Plays
Bastian Toelhoej (5)
GOAL by SMC Toelhoej, Bastian.
09:14
Will Wiersdorf (3)
Assisted By: Ethan Martinez , Simon Diagana
GOAL by SCU Wiersdorf, Will Assist by Martinez, Ethan and Diagana, Simon.
42:00
Sam Danner (1)
Assisted By: Adam Dring
GOAL by SMC Danner, Sam Assist by Dring, Adam.
46:16
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
def
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerGK
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerMF
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