WAVERLY, Iowa – After two big wins to start the season, the College of Saint Benedict soccer team picked up its first loss of 2019 Saturday afternoon.
 
After a relatively quiet first half, the Wartburg College offense came alive in the second, and CSB fell 4-1 to the Knights in a nonconference game in Waverly, Iowa. The team is now 2-1 overall, with both wins coming on its home field.
 
Wartburg (4-0) scored early when Kate Luers found the back of the net at the 7:28 mark, but Saint Benedict's defense kept the Knights away the rest of the half and Kendall Koenen had several saves. Megan Thompson had a shot that hit the post at the 15:48 mark and a shot that was saved a few seconds later, and another shot that was saved in the 18^th minute, but CSB was unable to convert.
 
The Knights started the second half hot, scoring five minutes in to make it 2-0, and then again on a penalty kick at 56:30 to go up 3-0. Luers scored again in the 66^th minute to make it 4-0 and end the scoring for Wartburg.
 
Mara Flaherty had a shot on net that was saved at the 70:07 mark, and she capitalized on another opportunity just over a minute later. Flaherty scored the team's only goal at the 71:49 mark it make it 4-1. Nicole Newman had a shot on net just before the 80^th minute, but 4-1 is where the game ended.
 
CSB had nine shots to Wartburg's 15, and the Knights had nine shots on net to CSB's five. Flaherty and Thompson each had two shots on net for CSB. Koenen finished with five saves.
 
Saint Benedict wraps up its Iowa road trip with a 3 p.m. game Sunday against Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The team starts MIAC play Tuesday at Concordia College in Moorhead.