ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After gutting out a double overtime game against St. Thomas in the heat and humidity Saturday morning, the College of Saint Benedict soccer team was at it again Sunday afternoon.
 
On another hot, sticky day, CSB hosted nonconference rival UW-Eau Claire, and although the two teams' offenses played evenly the whole game, the Blugolds came out ahead 2-0 at the new CSB Soccer Complex in St. Joseph.
 
Eau Claire (3-3) controlled the ball much of the first half, and had eight shots – including five on net – in the first half alone. Two of those shots went in and turned out to be the different in the game. The first came at the 9:56 mark when the Blugolds sent the ball in on a long kick from outside the box over goalie Kayli Thulin's left shoulder.
 
The Blugolds' second goal of the game came five minutes later on a corner kick to make it 2-0 not even midway through the first half.
 
Saint Benedict appeared to cut the gap to one in the final five minutes of the first half when Mara Flaherty got the rebound off a shot by Maren Noble and tapped the ball past UWEC's keeper, but she was called for offsides and Eau Claire's 2-0 lead stood going into halftime.
 
The second half was CSB's time to shine, as the team had six shots, including four on net. Early in the second half, forward Megan Thompson dribbled the ball into the box on UWEC's keeper, but the keeper fell on the ball as Thompson took the shot to keep Saint Benedict off the scoreboard. Flaherty added a shot on net, and Noble put a shot on net in the final 15 minutes of play.
 
Both teams finished with 10 shots, and Saint Benedict held a 6-5 edge in shots on net. Thulin finished with three saves in the first start of her career and the Blugolds' goalie finished with six saves. Noble put two shots on net to lead the team.
 
CSB is off now until Saturday, Sept. 22, when it hosts St. Olaf in a homecoming match. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the turf field.