ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict soccer team got off to a solid start in 2016. In 2017, head coach Steve Kimble and his squad look to translate that early success into wins down the stretch and a spot in the MIAC Tournament at the end of the season.
 
Saint Benedict returns a handful of key players from its 2016 campaign when it went 9-6-2 overall and 5-5-1 and finished tied for sixth in the MIAC. The team just missed a spot in the playoffs due to tiebreakers. Back to lead the offense is junior forward Jane Koch, who finished second on the team with eight goals and 20 points and third with four assists in 2016.
 
Koch's running mate from 2016, Taylor Hedin, graduated in May, but joining her up front this season is sophomore Samantha Schorzman, who transferred to CSB prior to the season from Division II Augustana (S.D.). Senior Sydney Bramer also returns at forward along with sophomore Nicole Newman and a handful of first years.
 
Holding down the midfield is senior Jenna Kleason, who scored three goals as a junior. She is joined by fellow senior Kelsey Tatarek – who missed her junior season due to injury – and sophomore Mara Flaherty, who scored a pair of goals in her first season with the team.
 
Shoring up the defense is senior Mariah Williams, junior Corrine Seehusen and sophomore Meghan Verkinderen. Verkinderen led all first years and finished sixth on the team in minutes played as a first year, and both Williams and Seehusen played a key role in the team's defense.
 
Stepping in full-time in the net this season is sophomore Kendall Koenen. She saw time in eight games as a first year and made 10 saves with a 3-1 record, and takes over for graduated keeper Heather Kaluzniak. First year Maggie Tolley also looks to see some time in the net in 2017.
 
Saint Benedict starts its season with a trio of nonconference games before getting into MIAC play. The team hosts Nebraska Wesleyan – which is coached by former CSB assistant Tudor Flintham – at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, at Haws Field on the SJU campus. CSB is on the road at UW-Eau Claire Sept. 9, then returns to Collegeville to host region rival Loras at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. CSB opens MIAC play against Concordia on Sept. 12 in Moorhead. The team gets to play on its new turf field across College Avenue for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 17, when it hosts UW-River Falls.