Women's Soccer | 11/02/2021

Live Stats/Video | MIAC Championship Site | Game Notes

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – In 2019, the College of Saint Benedict soccer team picked up its first MIAC Tournament win since 2013 to advance to the conference semifinals.
 
In 2021, the Bennies are hoping that a first-round bye gives the team fresh legs home-field advantage to not only pick up another tournament win, but to advance to the conference championship game.
 
Saint Benedict finished the regular season 8-1-2 in the MIAC and earned the No. 2 seed in the league's postseason tournament – its best finish since 2013 when the Bennies won the MIAC regular-season and tournament titles. The Bennies start their 2021 tournament run at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, when they host third-seeded Saint Mary's in a MIAC Semifinal game at the Outdoor Athletic Complex in St. Joe.
 
Fans are welcome at Wednesday's game, and must be masked at all times inside the Sister Lois Wedl Athletic Center. CSB family passes and CSB/SJU IDs will not be accepted, and ticket prices are $10 for adults and $2 for students. The first 100 CSB/SJU students get in free with ID thanks to the Saint Benedict athletic department.
 
About the Cardinals
In its first-ever MIAC Tournament appearance, Saint Mary's earned the No. 3 seed and a home playoff game Monday night. The Cardinals and St. Scholastica battled to a 0-0, double overtime tie, and SMU advanced on penalty kicks after making four to the Saints' one. Haddy Falkman is tied for second in the league with 10 goals and Jordyn Matthews leads the MIAC with six assists. Cardinals' keeper Alexis Nguyn has been stellar all season, and heads into the MIAC Semifinals with a miniscule goals-against average of 0.24. She has eight shutouts and 46 saves.
 
Last Meeting
The Cardinals accounted for one of CSB's conference ties this season. The two teams played to a scoreless double overtime tie on Sept. 18 in Winona. Saint Mary's held a slight edge in total shots, 11-10, and both teams put four shots on net. Nguyn stopped all four shots, while Annie Waters had one save and Paige Kahlmeyer had three for the Bennies. September's matchup marked the second straight tie between the two teams as they also played to a 1-1, double OT draw on April 25, 2021, in St. Joe.
 
The Storyline
There's a lot on the line for both teams Wednesday – a trip to the MIAC Championships, and the potential for an automatic or at-large bid to the NCAA Championships. Saint Benedict hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2013, and the Cardinals' last trip to the national championships was in 1994. The winner of Wednesday's game plays the winner of the St. Kate's Gustavus matchup at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, in the MIAC Championship game. The highest remaining seed will host the championship game.
 
Who to Watch
Saint Benedict has a pair of solid keepers in net this season in first year Annie Waters and junior Paige Kahlmeyer. Kahlmeyer is second behind Nguyen with a 0.48 goals-against average and Waters is fifth with a 0.85 goals-against average. Sophomore Ella Hinkemeyer scored the game-winning goal for the Bennies Saturday in the 107^th minute of the game off an assist from Clair Lehmann, and senior Roxy Veldman continues to lead the team offensively with seven goals. First year Sydney Burns leads the team with four assists.