ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict soccer team had its chances to score – and win – Wednesday evening, but couldn't capitalize. St. Kate's also had several missed opportunities, but made one opportunity count – and that was all the Wildcats needed.
 
The Bennies started MIAC play with a 1-0 loss to St. Kate's Wednesday in St. Joseph. Saint Benedict is now 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the MIAC while the Wildcats are 2-0-2 overall and 1-0 in league play.
 
Both teams had early shots on net, but CSB keeper Annie Waters and the Wildcats' keeper both made saves. Ella Young and Roxy Veldman both had first-half shots on net, and Young and Clair Lehmann both had shots that went wide. Young had the chance to put CSB on the board with a penalty kick right at the top of the Wildcats' penalty box, but her shot hit the top pipe and bounced away.
 
Waters had two big first-half saves to keep the game scoreless after 45 minutes.
 
Clara Noack put a shot on net to start the second half, and the Wildcats had the chance to score 10 minutes into the second when keeper Paige Kahlmeyer came out to defend a shot, but St. Kate's shot went wide and the score stayed 0-0. SCU – which had eight corner kick opportunities – capitalized on one of its last corner kicks of the game. In the 63^rd minute, the Wildcats scored on a scrum after a corner when Kahlmeyer lost the ball amidst all the athletes in the box.
 
The Bennies appeared to tie the game 10 minutes later when they drove the ball down to St. Kate's net and Ashlen Levoir tapped the ball into the net on a nice pass in front of the net, but the ball had gone out of bounds and instead the Wildcats got a goal kick.
 
Young had another shot that went wide late in the game, but the Wildcats were able to control the ball much of the final five minutes to hang on for the win.
 
Saint Benedict had 10 shots to the Wildcats' 12, and St. Kate's held a 5-4 edge in shots on net. Waters and Kahlmeyer both made two saves. Veldman led the team with two shots on net.
 
CSB returns to action over the weekend with a pair of road games. The Bennies play Saint Mary's at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, in Winona, and Central at 2 p.m. Sunday in Pella, Iowa.