MSOC | Gaels Drop Drama-Filled Shootout to San Jose State

Sunday, August 30

San Jose, CA

1:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

1-3-0, 0-0-0

San Jose State

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Saint Mary's (CA)	2	0	2
San Jose St.	3	1	4

MSOC | Gaels Drop Drama-Filled Shootout to San Jose State

8/30/2026 4:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Saint Mary's men's soccer team ended week two of the college soccer season 1-1 after a 4-2 defeat to San Jose State Sunday afternoon.

Sunday's match with the Spartans was not short of any drama or action as both teams combined for six goals and eight cautions over the 90 minutes. Saint Mary's equalized in the seventh minute off the right foot of Cameron Kobey but the Spartans were able to net three first half goals to take a two-goal lead. The Gaels offense never quit though as first-year player Luke Schaefer fired a near post rocket into the back of the net off a solo dribble to bring Saint Mary's within one heading into the break.

Head coach Adam Cooper and the Gaels found themselves on the wrong end of a pair of video reviews for potential penalties with both being upheld and waived off, one in the first and one in the second. Saint Mary's outshot San Jose State 8-4 in the second half and even rattled the crossbar in the 68th minute but the Spartans netted a fourth goal in the 78th minute to seal the dramatic 4-2 victory.

Schaefer finished the day with his first points as a Gael, scoring the second goal for Saint Mary's in the first half and assisting the first off the right boot of Kobey. Sam Bentley faced 16 shots and made five saves in what was his fourth start of the season. Saint Mary's will return to Moraga for a two-game homestand next week with matchups against Marist and Air Force.

HOW IT HAPPENED

A combined four goals were scored within the first 30 minutes of Sunday's match but three came from the Spartans. Saint Mary's equalized in the seventh minute off a beautiful counter attacking goal from sophomore midfielder Cameron Kobey for his first of the season. A change of possession in the middle of the field sprung Kobey onto a dribble down the middle of the Spartans defense. Kobey slipped Luke Schaefer into the box between a pair of defenders but Schaefer dumped a first-time pass back to Kobey who rifled a first-time shot into the bottom left corner to tie the game at one.

After going down 3-1, Schaefer would take matters into his own hands with a powerful near post shot on another transitional opportunity, scoring his first goal as a Gael and bringing Saint Mary's to within one just before the halftime whistle.

A pivotal moment in the match came in the 48th minute when Kobey was taken down on a dribble just inside the top of the box but no whistle would be awarded on the field. The play would go to review and be upheld, denying Saint Mary's a game-tying penalty kick opportunity. The Gaels went on to outshoot the Spartans 8-4 with numerous high quality chances but San Jose State was able to double its lead with a goal in the 78th minute to seal the 4-2 victory.

GAME NOTES

Luke Schaefer recorded his first points as a Gael with a goal and an assist
Cameron Kobey scored his first goal of the season in the seventh minute; the second of his career
Second-year Gael Rafael Suarez recorded his first career assist on the second goal for the Gaels
True freshman Max Owusu-Antwi made his collegiate debut with 62 minutes of action off the bench
Sam Bentley made five more saves in goal, bringing his season total to 15
Kobey, Suarez and Eemil Laamanen were the three field players to play all 90 minutes for the Gaels
Saint Mary's has now scored four goals over its past two games

LOOKING AHEAD

The Gaels will return to Moraga for a two-game homestand, hosting Marist on September 4 and Air Force on September 7. Both games can be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets can be bought online 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.

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