ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict soccer team is off to a hot start 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. CSB heads into the weekend with two games on the schedule. Saint Benedict travels to Eau Claire, Wis. on Saturday, Sept. 9, to take on UW-Eau Claire at 2 p.m. Then. CSB returns home on Sunday, Sept. 10, when it hosts Loras College at 3:30 p.m. in Collegeville.
About the opponents:
Eau Claire started the season 0-2, with losses to Carleton and Macalester. Last year, the Blugolds went 8-9-2, and lost to CSB 2-1 OT on Sept. 1 in St. Joseph. Bailee Hyde has a goal and an assist on six shots through two games this season.
Loras is off to a quick start this season with a record of 2-0-1, after defeating Denison 4-1 and Wheaton 2-1. Earlier this week, the Duhawks tied No. 10 Whitewater 2-2 in double overtime. Last season, the Duhawks went 12-4-3, they went on to lose in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The last time CSB and Loras faced off was sept. 12, 2015, and Loras won 2-1 in Dubuque. Gretchen Schutz and Elizabeth Mils both have two goals and one assist this season for the Duhawks.
Last time out:
Last Friday, CSB opened its 2017 season with a 5-1 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan University in Collegeville. The CSB defense limited the Prairie Wolves to only five shots on net. First year
Megan Thompson won CSB's and MIAC's athlete of the week awards after scoring four goals in her first collegiate game.
Jane Koch also added a goal and assist for CSB.
Who to Watch:
First year forward
Megan Thompson made a splashy debut last weekend when she scored four goals to led CSB to a 5-1 victory over NWU. She is second in the MIAC in points and tied for first with four goals scored so far this weekend.
Jane Koch also had several shots on net and scored once, and
Alyssa Krause,
Maren Noble and
Jenna Kleason all tallied an assist. Sophomore
Kendall Koenen and first year
Maggie Tolley split time in net and combined to make four saves.
Saint Benedict plays two more nonconference games before getting into MIAC play. 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.
