| Box Score |

St. Joseph, Minn. - The Saint Benedict soccer team played a thrilling double overtime match against No. 22 Wartburg today (Sept. 16), ending in a 2-2 tie.

The Blazers came out strong and energetic in the first half, outshooting the Knights 10-to-4 during the period.

It didn't take first-year forward Alyssa Hoffman long to put the Blazers ahead. Mid-way through the first half she fielded a rebound off Knight goalkeeper Monica Noti and rocketed the ball into the back of the net to put the Blazers up 1-0

That was not the end of the afternoon for Hoffman, though, as 15 minutes later first-year defender Valerie Clintsman sent a cross into the box for junior forward Colleen Bouchard who promptly fed Hoffman for her second goal of the game, and fourth of the season.

Wartburg coach Tuffany Pins' halftime message worked for the Knights, who came out reenergized and refocused in the second half.

However, Blazer sophomore keeper Megan Favorite was not fazed by a barrage of opposing shots early in the second-half. She made several crafty and impressive saves to keep Wartburg off the scoreboard, until about mid-way through the second half when Knight forward Kaylee Banning was awarded a penalty kick on a controversial foul call against the Blazers.

Banning scored on the ensuing penalty kick to pull the Knights within one, her sixth goal in seven matches for the Knights.

With a mere 56 seconds left to play Knight defender Cathy Reiter gave the Knights the last minute goal they were looking for to tie the match 2-2 and send it into overtime.

Neither team was able to score through both overtime periods, ending the match at a bittersweet draw for the Blazers against the nationally ranked Wartburg Knights.

The Blazers now turn their eyes to the heart of their conference season, where they will play six of their next seven matches at home. Hoffman hopes her team will be able to learn from this game and do some different things down the stretch to help separate themselves from the rest of the MIAC teams.

“A game like this will teach us not to give up until the game is over. I think we kind of started relaxing with about a minute left and then they scored, so we have to play to the very end,” Hoffman said.

After a tie against a very good Wartburg club the Blazers are in great condition to compete for another conference championship. “We did really well on defense and our midfield stayed really tight, I think if we talk more and communicate more we'll be able to put a few more away,” Favorite added.