LA CROSSE, Wis. — Vinicius Steger Pires and
Mats Flick each scored during the closing minutes as the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's soccer team mounted a second-half response in a 4-2 loss to Viterbo University on Saturday afternoon.
The Pomeroys (2-4-2) placed all four of their shots on goal and outscored Viterbo 2-1 after halftime.
Viterbo (1-5-2) established an early advantage with three goals during the opening 10 minutes. Emil Larsson opened the scoring 59 seconds into the match before Marco Mazza and Alvaro Iglesias extended the lead.
SMWC settled into the match following the early surge.
Jacobo Galvez produced the Pomeroys' first scoring opportunity in the 14th minute, forcing Viterbo goalkeeper Alexis Da Ponte to make a save.
Harry Jackson helped keep the deficit at three through halftime, making saves in the 11th, 29th and 40th minutes.
Ethan Johnson also helped SMWC create pressure with a pair of corner kicks late in the opening period.
Pires made an impact at both ends of the field during the second half. The SMWC defender cleared Matteo Bianconi's header off the goal line in the 55th minute for a defensive save.
Jamachi Obiukwu put another shot on frame in the 70th minute before Johnson delivered the Pomeroys' third corner kick of the match. Viterbo added its fourth goal in the 78th minute, but SMWC answered 2 minutes, 29 seconds later when Pires found the back of the net.
The Pomeroys continued pushing forward until the final whistle. Flick scored with seven seconds remaining to give SMWC its second goal of the half and produce the 4-2 final.
Pires finished with a goal and a defensive save, while Flick scored on his only shot. Galvez and Obiukwu also placed shots on goal for an SMWC attack that was perfect in shot accuracy.
Jackson recorded six saves in 90 minutes in goal. SMWC and Viterbo each earned four corner kicks.
SMWC returns to action Sunday, Sept. 27, when it visits Harris-Stowe State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CDT in St. Louis.
