The Johnnie soccer team hosts Saint Mary's at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Haws Field. – Live Stats | Live Video

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (2-4, 0-2 MIAC) fell to Hamline by a 1-0 score, its fourth of the season, earlier this week on Tuesday (Sept. 24). Ricky Kwabena Yawson scored the game's lone goal, his seventh of the season, in the 55th minute for Hamline.

Tuesday's game started on Saturday (Sept. 21) but was suspended due to lightning. The first 5:42 of the game was played before lightning delayed the contest an hour and 15 minutes. Play resumed, but weather prompted another delay and the eventual postponement. The contest started Tuesday with 29:43 remaining in the first half.

Senior goalkeeper Evan Siefken (Lakeville, Minn./North) made two saves in the loss. HU edged SJU in total shots, 12-11, though the Johnnies posted a 5-3 advantage on goal.

A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's (5-3, 0-1 MIAC) started the 2024 season with a five-game win streak but has dropped its last three matches, including a 4-2 defeat to Augsburg last Saturday (Sept. 21) in Winona. Junior Cohan Hare gave SMU a quick 1-0 lead with his sixth goal of the season 8:30 into the game, but the Auggies answered with three goals over a 4:07 span to take a 3-1 lead into the break. Sophomore Diego Giles cut the Cardinals' deficit to one in the 74th minute and Augsburg answered 2:08 later. Hare leads the team with 13 points (6g/1a), followed by freshman Francesco Cardone (1g/3a) and Giles (2g/0a). 

A YEAR AGO: SJU tallied two unanswered goals in the second half to earn a 2-1 victory at Saint Mary's last Sept. 23 (2023) in Winona. Junior forward Carter Hermanson (St. Paul, Minn./Holy Angels) tied the game at 1-1 for SJU late in the 63rd minute with his first goal of the season and third of his career, and sophomore midfielder Andrew Pitzner (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian Academy) notched his first collegiate game-winner – his third goal in as many games – in the 72nd minute.

Sophomore midfielder Danny Boyle (Downers Grove, Ill./Benet Academy) slide tackled a Saint Mary's player from 35 yards out and the ball went to Hermanson, who had his back to the keeper. Hermanson possessed the bouncing ball, did a half turn and sent a volley over the keeper for the game-tying tally. 

On the game-winner, junior defender Noah Hermanson (St. Paul, Minn./Holy Angels) curved a free kick from the right wing and connected with a header from Pitzner.

Hare gave SMU the 1-0 lead on a direct free kick, his fourth goal of the season, with 1:56 left before halftime.

Junior goalkeeper Sam Steil (Spring Lake Park, Minn.) made his first start as a Johnnie and stopped four shots for the win.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 40-7-6 against the Cardinals since 1981, including a 20-3-5 record in Collegeville.