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Comin' Home: The No. 15 Saint Benedict soccer team (7-0-1, 3-0-0 MIAC) will attempt once again to defend their undefeated record and national ranking when they play host to the Macalester Scots (3-3-1, 1-2-0 MIAC) this afternoon (Oct 2). The game will be the Blazers third home game, and will be a welcome return to St. Joseph after a two-game road trip to St. Olaf and Gustavus. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
About the Scots: At the beginning of the season, the Scots were picked by the MIAC coaches to finish third in the conference behind co-favorites Concordia and Saint Benedict. They went 2-1-1 in their non-conference season, with their only loss coming to Wheaton (Ill.), who happens to be ranked No. 1 in the country. They have stumbled slightly since the conference season began however, dropping road matches to Augsburg and St. Thomas and winning at home against Hamline. They are led by senior forward Georgia Cleopfil, who is second in the MIAC with 17 points this season.
Last Year: In 2012 the Blazers opened conference play with a win in St. Paul over the Scots. The teams both managed to keep each other out of the net until the 80th minute, when then-senior
Paige Olson punched one in for the Blazers, giving them a 1-0 victory over the scots. The Blazers were one of only four teams to shutout the Scots last year.
The Storyline: Will the nationally ranked Blazers overcome their historical difficulties against Macalester? The Scots are the only team in the MIAC that boasts a winning record against the Blazers (10-5-5). The Blazers are 1-2-1 against Macalester under Head Coach
Steve Kimble, who got his first win against the Scots last year. The Blazers will be looking to defend their perfect record, while the Scots will be desperate to avoid going 1-3 to begin MIAC play.
Who to Watch: Sophomore forward Grace Vaughan (Shakopee, Minn.) has had the golden boot lately for the Blazers, netting 10 points over her past five games. That run was highlighted by a two-goal outburst against Wisconsin-Stout. Senior forward
Colleen Bouchard (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) continues to lead the MIAC with six assists on the year, and leads the Blazers with 14 points. The Blazer front trio of Vaughan, Bouchard, and sophomore forward
Aly Hoffman (Chaska, Minn.) have recorded either a goal or an assist on 17 of the Blazers 19 scoring plays this year.
Last Time Out: Last Saturday (Sept. 26) the Blazers traveled to St. Peter and rolled to a 2-0 victory against the Gustavus Gusties. Vaughan started the scoring in the 33rd minute, sneaking a header past the keeper off a corner kick from senior defender
Kristina Burk (Westminster, Colo.).
Colleen Bouchard added an insurance goal early in the second half, scoring unassisted for her fourth goal of the year. The win moved the Blazers to 3-0 in the MIAC and allowed them to keep pace with the other conference leaders.
