Box Score

WINONA, Minn. – Saint John's soccer returned to the win column with a 5-3 road victory at Saint Mary's on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Winona.

The long trek failed to slow SJU (7-3, 4-1 MIAC), which out-shot the Cardinals 16-8 (10-6 on goal) and recorded a 12-2 advantage in corner kicks in the game.

Senior forward Kagan Foster (Alexandria, Minn.) gave SJU a 1-0 lead with the first of two goals on the afternoon 10:56 into the contest. 

Josh Balsiger tied the game for SMU (4-6, 1-3 MIAC) with his sixth goal of the year seven minutes later, but SJU answered with three straight goals. Senior forward Nathan Stone (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) gave the lead back to the visitors with his first goal of the season in the 31st minute and senior forward Ben Becker (Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels) sent the Johnnies into halftime with a 3-1 lead thanks to his sixth tally, and 14th of his career, at the 39:54 mark.

Foster made it 4-1 with his team-leading seventh goal of the season, and third in his last two games, 2:15 into the second half. Freshman forward Ryan Erickson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan) serviced the ball to the back post and Stone sent a header back across the box to a wide-open Foster. 

The Cardinals cut their deficit to 4-3 with a pair of goals 30 seconds apart in the 58th minute, the first of which was a penalty kick.

Junior midfielder Tommy Picka (Victoria, Minn./Chaska) gave SJU some breathing room with his first goal as a Johnnie with 5:31 remaining. He curved a free kick from the corner of the box, around the wall, untouched to the back of the net.

Senior goalkeeper Payton Spencer (Hudson, Wis.) made three saves to improve to 4-1 on the season.

The Johnnies return home to host Minnesota-Morris (2-9, 1-1 UMAC) for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Haws Field in Collegeville.