Live Video | MIAC Soccer Championship Page
The road to the MIAC Championship starts tomorrow (Nov. 4th), as the fourth-seed College of Saint Benedict soccer team (14-4, 8-3 MIAC) will host the fifth-seed St. Thomas team (8-7-3, 6-4-1 MIAC) tomorrow at 2 p.m in the first round of the MIAC playoffs. After a season-finale loss to second-place Concordia, the Blazers will attempt to regroup against a St. Thomas team they defeated by a 2-0 just three weeks ago in Collegeville.
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Tickets: Admission is $3 for students and $7 for adults. MIAC passes WILL be accepted. The first 50 students get in free thanks to CSB Senate.
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The Schedule:
Saint Benedict vs. St. Thomas, 2 p.m., Nov. 4th, John Haws Field Collegeville, MN
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The Records:
CSB: 14-4-0 (8-3-0 MIAC) (7-1 Home)
UST: 8-7-3 (6-4-1 MIAC) (4-6 Away)
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Who to Watch:
CSB:
Jr. F Aly Hoffman (Tied with Vaughan for team-lead with six goals and six assists, scored a goal and assisted a goal the last time the Blazers played St. Thomas)
Jr. F Gracie Vaughan (Tied with Hoffman for team lead in goals and assists. Has scored in back-to-back games)
So. K Heather Kaluzniak (Led the MIAC this year with a 0.897 save percentage and a 0.57 goals against average)
UST:
Sr. F Morgan McConachie (Leads team with six goals, four assists)
So. K Tarynn Theiliq (Led the MIAC with 78 saves this year)
Fy. F Brielle Bierman (Rookie sensation is second on team with five goals)
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About the Tommies:
After graduating three All-MIAC performers from last year's squad, the Tommies were picked to finish tied for fifth in the coaches' preseason poll. After losing four of their first five, they finished the season strong, with their only conference losses in October coming to Saint Ben's and runner-up Concordia. That strong finished allowed the Tommies to make the MIAC playoffs as the five-seed as predicted.
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Earlier This Year:
On October 14th the Tommies traveled to Collegeville to take on the Blazers in an important MIAC regular mid-season matchup. The game was scoreless until the game's 56th minute, when the Blazers scored two goals within a minute of each other. Hoffman scored the first goal off an assist from Vaughan, and then quickly assisted the next goal to Megan Lenz to knock the Tommies out of the game.
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The Storyline:
The Blazers slid from having an opportunity to be conference champions to being the fourth seed in the MIAC playoffs. Despite the disappointing finish, the Blazers still have an opportunity to make a playoff run and prove they deserve the conference's NCAA playoff bid. Their kryptonite in all of their losses this year has been allowing themselves to get down early. They have a 1-4 record this year when their opponents score early.
