By Alex Wald

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict soccer team is set to open its MIAC season on the road Tuesday, Sept. 16, against the Hamline University Pipers. The Blazers will be looking to add to head coach Steve Kimble's 4-1 record in MIAC openers since taking over the program in the 2009 season.
 
The Schedule:
Saint Benedict at Hamline, 4 p.m., Sept. 16, St. Paul, Minn.
 
The Records:
CSB: 5-1-0 (0-0-0 MIAC) (2-0 Away)
HU: 4-0-1 (0-0-0 MIAC) (2-0-1 Home)
 
Who to Watch:
CSB:
Jr. F Aly Hoffman (Plymouth, Minn.) Leads the team with eight points and tied for the team lead with three goals
Jr. F Gracie Vaughan (Shakopee, Minn.) Tied for team lead with three goals, has scored twice in the past three matches
Jr. M Peggy Renier (Plymouth, Minn.) Two goals over the past three matches
 
HU:
So. D Malya Hirshkowitz (Seattle, Wash.) Leads the Pipers with six points off two goals and two assists
Sr. K Erin Urbanowicz (Gresham, Ore.) All-MIAC returnee leads a defensive group that did not concede a single goal in the nonconference schedule
So. D Kristen Berry (Vancouver, Wash.) Leads Hamline with 470 minutes played

Last Year: The score has been the same each of the past two times Hamline and Saint Ben's have played: 3-2 in double overtime in favor of the Blazers. In last year's contest, Kaitlyn Lauer and Vaughan each scored in regulation, and Hoffman scored in the 100th minute off a rebound to give CSB the win.
 
Last Time Out:
This weekend the Blazers hosted two Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) powerhouses in Wartburg College and Loras College. After a 1-0 win against Wartburg on Saturday, the Blazers carried momentum into Sunday's match against Loras, the very same team that ended their playoff run last season. Just 10 minutes in, junior forward Katie Truesdale found a seam in the Blazer defense and buried a shot to put Loras up 1-0. The Blazers however, responded with three goals, including a goal and an assist from first-year Kelsey Tatarek to defeat the Duhawks 3-1. That goal was the first of Tatarek's career as a Blazer.
 
Pipin' Hot:
After being picked to finish seventh in the conference in the coaches' preseason poll, Hamline rolls into the conference schedule with an undefeated 4-0-1 record. They have been able to stay undefeated thanks in large part to their defense. Through five games they have yet to concede a goal. They are led by Urbanowicz, who has presided in net over the only three winning seasons in school history, and looks to make her senior campaign the fourth.
 
The Matchup:
While the Pipers will be looking to maintain their shutout streak, the Blazer offense certainly has other plans in mind. Although they have yet to concede a goal, the Pipers have not yet faced an offense with as much firepower as CSB will bring with former All-MIAC players Vaughan, Hoffman and Renier. The Blazers fired more shots in their past two games (46) than the Pipers have faced all season (35).