ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – It took overtime, but the College of Saint Benedict soccer team got the job done Wednesday against Macalester in its quest to move up as much as possible in the MIAC standings. Now, CSB has one last shot to improve its final 2018 conference finish – and its seed for the MIAC Tournament.
Saint Benedict wraps up the regular season on the road Saturday, Oct. 27, when it heads to Northfield to take on Carleton College in a 1 p.m. game. CSB already knows it's in the playoffs, but seeding is at stake. Heading into Saturday, CSB is tied for fifth in the league standings with St. Olaf. CSB can finish anywhere between fourth and sixth, depending on what happens around the league.
About the Knights
Carleton had a hot start to the 2018 season, and was ranked in the top 25 in Division III early on after starting the year 5-1-3. But the Knights head into the regular-season finale 5-7-4 overall and 2-4-3 and seventh in the MIAC, and looking to snap a six-game losing streak. The Knights have a tie, but no wins since Sept. 22. Nora Mertz leads the team with six goals and Emma Wasend has three assists. Anna Roethler has seen the bulk of the time in net, and has 95 saves to her name.
Last Meeting
The Knights came to St. Joseph and beat CSB 2-1 to end the 2017 regular season. The Knights got on the board first, but Mara Flaherty scored her third goal of the season two minutes into the second half. Carleton, however, scored the game-winner five minutes later. CSB had 18 shots to the Knights' five, including a 9-3 edge in shots on net. Kendall Koenen made one save.
The Storyline
CSB can finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the MIAC depending on how the game against the Knights goes and what else happens around the league. A top-four finish would mark the team's seventh in the last nine years. Carleton is out of the playoffs, but looking to end the season on a high note and head into 2019 with some momentum after a hot start to the season.
Who to Watch
First year Roxy Veldman played the hero Wednesday against Macalester, scoring the game-winning goal less than two minutes into overtime. That marked her second goal of the season. Sydney Sherek and Maren Noble both had several nice shots on net against the Scots, and Megan Thompson also had a few good looks. Thompson leads the team with eight goals this season. Koenen made two saves to preserve the win and the shutout against Macalester.
