ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict soccer team (1-0) opened its season in style Tuesday, rolling 5-0 over the Cougars from the University of Minnesota-Morris (0-1). The win improves head coach Steve Kimble's record in home openers to 5-1-1.
The story of the game was a Blazer offense that kept the ball in the attacking end of the field and rifled off an un-heard of 41 shots, while the defense held the Cougars to just one total shot. That mark is 13 shots more than their 2014 single-game high for shots (28).
The fans at over-capacity CSB Soccer Field didn't have to wait long to see their team take the lead. In the game's fourth minute, senior forward and returning Blazer soccer MVP Aly Hoffman grabbed the rebound off a shot from junior forward Taylor Hedin and booted straight into the back of the net. Always one to make sure the fans get their money's worth, Hoffman found the net again just 40 seconds later. Her second goal in the first five minutes of the season came off a pass from senior midfielder Peggy Renier.
The Blazer back line was a brick wall for the rest of the half holding the Cougars to just one shot while the Blazer offense rifled off 19.
To round off the half, the Blazers received an unassisted goal off the foot of senior forward Valerie Clintsman and a goal from sophomore forward Miranda Mosher. Mosher's goal was assisted by junior defender Cassie Miedema. The Blazers comfortably walked off the field leading by a 4-0 margin.
The second half followed the same storyline as the first half. The Blazer offense rifled off 22 shots in the half, while stopping the Cougars from a single shot attempt. Those 22 second-half shots is a higher shot total than the Blazers had in 16 of 19 games last year. Despite all the scoring opportunities however, the Blazers scored only one goal in the second half. In the game's 83rd minute, Mosher took a pass from senior defender Megan Lenz and rocketed it past the Cougar keeper, scoring her 2nd goal in her first game as a Blazer.
Junior keeper Heather Kaluzniak, the quietest player on the field today, recorded her thirteenth career shutout.
Blazer soccer will look to keep its momentum going this Saturday, when it will travel to Menomonie to play the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
