St. Joseph, Minn. -- The College of Saint Benedict Soccer team saw their first action of the season Friday (Aug. 23) when the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs came to town for a friendly exhibition. The Mustangs compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and in the NCAA's Division II. 

The Blazers shook away the offseason rust early. Several early scoring opportunities culminated in a goal when senior Colleen Bouchard set up sophomore teammate Peggy Renier with a beautiful pass that Renier promptly rocketed past Mustang goalkeeper Kristy Leopold. The goal put the Blazers up 1-0 with 35 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Mustangs responded to the goal, pushing the ball forward and creating a multitude of open shots that were knocked away by junior keeper Megan Favorite. 

With seven minutes remaining in the half sophomore Grace Vaughn almost gave her team a two-goal lead heading into the half when she broke away from a Mustang defender at the top of the box and chipped a shot over Leopold that bounced off the crossbar and out of play.

The Mustangs came stampeding out in the second half, testing Blazer first-year keeper Heather Kaluzniak, who played the entire second half in net. Kaluzniak came up with several impressive saves early, including a diving save off a shot by Mustang Midfielder Autumn Hayes. 

Mid-way through the second half Hayes set up another opportunity when she dribbled the ball to the right side of the net and crossed it to senior teammate Kayla Williams who headed it past Kaluzniak to tie the match 1-1. 

A few minutes later Bouchard stole the ball from a Mustang defender and struck a beautiful outside-foot pass to sophomore and 2012 goals leader Aly Hoffman. Hoffman dribbled to the left of the box and quickly rifled a shot past the keeper but ricocheted off the pipe and was cleared by the Mustang defense.

With 20 minutes left in the game Mustang first-year Morgan Weyer-Coates picked up a loose ball off a scramble in the box and footed it past Kaluzniak to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish. 

The Blazers return to exhibition action Sunday at 1 p.m. when they will travel to St. Cloud State to try their luck across town against the Huskies.