College of Saint Benedict Athletics

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- Junior forward Taylor Hedin and senior forward Gracie Vaughan each had a goal and an assist, and the College of Saint Benedict soccer team (6-4-2, 4-2 MIAC) rolled to a 3-1 victory over the Bethel Royals (3-9, 0-6 MIAC) Saturday afternoon. The win keeps the Blazers within striking distance of conference leaders in the MIAC standings.

Hedin got the scoring started for the Blazers on her first shot of the game, scoring off a pass from senior forward Vaughan in the game's 16th minute. That goal was already Hedin's fifth goal of the year, tying her career high from 2014. The assist was Vaughan's third of the year.

In the 16th minute of the second half, Hedin sent a pass to senior forward Aly Hoffman which resulted in Hoffman's sixth goal of the year. The goal gave the Blazers a commanding 2-0 lead.

The two teams played without another shot until the 72nd minute, when Royal forward Julia Perkins rocketed a shot from 25 yards out into the back of the net, cutting the Blazers' lead to one.

Just four days from being upset by St. Thomas, the Blazers buckled down to ensure this game would not have the same result. In the 81st minute, Vaughan took a pass from junior midfielder Olivia Musser and scored her third goal of the season, sealing the 3-1 win for the Blazer squad.

The Blazers had a season-low seven shots, but five of them were on net. They held the Royals to just two shots, and both were on net. CSB goalie Heather Kaluzniak made one save and Blythe Whealy had two saves for the Royals, who are now 3-9 overall and 0-6 in the league.
 
Saint Benedict returns home Wednesday, Oct. 14, when it hosts Gustavus in another key MIAC matchup at 4 p.m. The Gusties currently lead the league with a 7-4-1 overall record and a 5-1 conference mark. The Blazers are tied for third in the MIAC with Augsburg as both teams have 4-2 MIAC records.