ST. PAUL, Minn. – Heading into Saturday's MIAC Championship game, the last loss on the College of Saint Benedict soccer team's schedule was St. Kate's nearly two months ago on Sept. 15.
 
The Bennies looked to avenge that loss and keep their seven-game winning streak alive Saturday afternoon – while also securing the program's first bid to nationals since 2013 – but the Wildcats also had a streak to keep alive.
 
For the second time this season, the two teams played to a 1-0 decision, with the Wildcats coming away with the one-goal victory for the second time this season, this time on St. Kate's home field in St. Paul.
 
Saint Benedict, which made its first appearance in the MIAC title game since 2013, is now 11-4-3 overall and awaits Monday's NCAA selection show to learn if it has done enough to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bennies headed into Saturday's game ranked sixth in Region IX. The Wildcats earn the MIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history and first time since 2017.
 
The first half of Saturday's game was quiet offensively to start for both teams. St. Kate's (14-1-3) had several shots that went wide, and first year goalie Annie Waters had two saves in the first 31 minutes of play. The Bennies struggled to get their offense going, and put up just one off-target shot in the first half.
 
It appeared the two teams would go to halftime deadlocked 0-0, but with just one minute left before the break, Lauren Witte scored for the Wildcats to put St. Kate's up 1-0 and give her team the momentum going into the second half.
 
The Wildcats put two shots on junior keeper Paige Kahlmeyer early in the second, but she stopped both to keep CSB in the game. Clara Noack got the Bennies' first shot on goal early in the second, and Chloe Miller put a shot on net a few minutes later, but both were saved. Abby Willenbring and Lindsay Mueller had shots on in the final 10 minutes of play, but St. Kate's was able to save both and hold on for the win.
 
Waters finished with two saves and Kahlmeyer added three to her season total Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats had 11 total shots to CSB's 5, and held a slight edge in shots on net, 6-4.
 
The 2021 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Selection Show starts at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8. The link to the show will be live at noon on the NCAA website.