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Let the Good Times Roll: The Saint Benedict soccer team will look to extend its five game winning-streak tomorrow (Sept. 21) when they will travel to Northfield for another MIAC matchup against the St. Olaf Oles. At 5-0-1 (1-0-0 MIAC) on the season, their winning streak is tied for their longest since they won five games in a row in October of 2010.
About the Oles: The Oles started their season with a three-game road trip to Iowa and then California where they were the losers in all three matches. Since then however, they are 2-0-1 (1-0-0 MIAC) including a 2-1 double overtime victory over conference rival Bethel. They are led by their staunch defense and veteran goalkeeper Nora Forbes (All-MIAC 2012). On offense, they boast a balanced attack, as nobody on their team has scored more than one goal this year.
Last Year: In 2012, the Oles came into St. Joe on the Blazers' Homecoming day and stole a 2-1 overtime win. The Blazers outshot the Oles 22-to-12 in the match and 15-to-2 in the second half but were only able to muster one goal, off a penalty shot by then-junior
Colleen Bouchard (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). The Oles got one first half-goal from Emily Sierakowski, sending the match into overtime. The Blazers appeared inches from winning the game several times. The Oles however capitalized on their one corner kick and walked away with the win.
The Storyline: After being picked to win the conference, can the Blazers keep on winning? They clawed their way to a win in their first conference game, a nail-biting 3-2 double overtime victory over Hamline. This will be their first MIAC test on the road however; and the Oles will surely be fired up for their chance to hand the Blazers their first loss of the season.
Who to Watch: Sophomore forward Grace Vaughan (Shakopee, Minn.) has been on a tear as of late, scoring four goals in her past three games, highlighted by a two-goal effort in a 3-0 win over Wisconsin-Stout. Her four goals are tied for first on the team and her nine points place her second. Senior forward
Colleen Bouchard (Cedar Rapids, owa) leads the team with ten points and six assists. First-year keeper Heather Kaluzniak (Plymouth, Minn.) continues to be a pleasant surprise after replacing
Megan Favorite (Maple Grove, Minn.) as the starter when Favorite injured her ankle. Kaluzniak's goals-against-average sits an impressive 0.92 after five games as the starter. Even more important is that she has yet to lose a game in net as a Blazer.
Last Time Out: On Tuesday the Blazers won their MIAC opener in a 3-2 double overtime victory over the Pipers of Hamline.
Kaitlyn Lauer (Plymouth, Minn.) started the scoring early, scoring off a corner kick just 10 minutes into the game to put the Blazers up 1-0. Vaughan would score early in the second half, but the Blazers weren't able to hold off the Pipers offensive attack, and found themselves tied 2-2 at the end of regulation. Just 45 seconds into the second overtime period however, sophomore forward
Aly Hoffman (Chaska, Minn.) snatched up a loose ball and footed it past the diving Piper keeper to give the Blazers a 3-2 victory in their MIAC opener.
