Box Score | GameDay Preview

ROCKFORD, Ill. — As if having to play on the road, in its second game in less than 24 hours, the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team found itself not only competing against Rockford, but also against the elements.

And the Regents — with an assist from Mother Nature — were just too much.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first half, but a 20-minute weather delay zapped the Cardinals momentum, and Rockford took advantage, scoring three times before halftime to beat SMU 3-2.

“We didn't play as well as we did (Friday),” said SMU coach Pete Watkins, whose team had opened the season with a 2-1, double-overtime loss at Lake Forest. “Playing two games in less than 24 hours is tough, but that's just something you have to overcome.

“We were a bit unfortunate in the timing of the weather delay, that really took away all of our early momentum.”

The Cardinals' two goals both came from freshmen, as Matt Graber (Denver, Colo.) and Mac Stringer (Mendota Heights, Minn.) both netted their first collegiate goals — Graber's early in the first half, while Stringer's came in the second half.

The Cardinals (0-2 overall) open their home schedule on Tuesday, when they host North Central in a 7 p.m. nonconference game at Ochrymowycz Field.