Run for Men's Soccer Ends in Round of 16

SAN ANTONIO – The second-seeded St. Mary's Men's Soccer team saw its 2022 season come to an end on Thursday night with a 2-1 loss to third-seeded Colorado State Pueblo.

The Thunderwolves (17-3-2) turned the tables on the Rattlers (12-2-6), winning by the identical score from early in the season when StMU won in Pueblo.

"It's a cruel game tonight," said Head Coach Johnny Clifford. "We had a really poor first half but gave everything in the second to try to win. Unfortunately, things didn't go our way. We lost to a good team tonight and we can hold our heads high with the achievements we've had!"

CSU Pueblo scored first, finding the back of the net in the 21st minute, but senior Deni Cresto (Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) tied it up in the 38th minute when he scored on a free kick after freshman Adam Aboohamidi (Wolfforth, Texas) was fouled just outside the goal box.

In the 62nd minute, the ball took a Thunderwolves bounce allowing Gabriel Campora to score his 14th goal of the year and give CSUP the 2-1 lead, which they never relinquished. The Rattlers had several looks on goal late, but couldn't capitalize.

The game marks the end of the collegiate careers of some of the best to ever wear the Gold & Blue in Jalil Blalock (Elizabeth, N.J.), Cresto, Cian Foley (Wexford, Ireland), Jose Llano (Mexico City, Mexico), Leonardo Velazco (El Pinar, Canelones, Uruguay) and Lewis Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland).

"I know the boys are gutted and I know they felt they should have won, but that's football," Clifford stated. "Thank you to Rattler Nation! You've been our 12th man all year both online and in person!"

Colorado State Pueblo will face eighth-seeded Northwest Nazarene in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Sigma Beta Chi Field. NNU scored two goals in the final three minutes to pull off its second-straight upset, defeating Cal State Dominguez Hills 3-2. The Nighthawks knocked out top-seeded and defending national champions, Cal State LA in the second round.