VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. - With preseason complete and the roster set for the 2022 season, it was time for the College of Saint Benedict soccer team to take their practice and preparation on the road to start the season off.  

The Bennies headed east to Virginia Beach to compete in a two-day tournament hosted by Virginia Wesleyan University. Their opponent for game one on Friday night wasn't going to be an easy task either. The Bennies were matched up against the defending national champions and United Soccer Coaches national preseason #1 pick for Division III, Christopher Newport University.  

The first half of Friday's game was quiet offensively for both teams. CSB struggled to get past the CNU Captain's defense, only getting past two shots that went wide during the first half. Senior goalkeeper Paige Kahlmeyer had two saves in the first 20 minutes of play for the Bennies. These saves came off two of the six CNU shots that made it to the net.  

The two teams would remain deadlocked 0-0 at halftime and start the second half with the Bennies holding back the Captains offense for almost 30 minutes with no shots on net. At the 66th minute, sophomore goalkeeper Annie Waters would sub in for Paige Kahlmeyer and make her first save of the game just eight minutes later. In the 83rd minute, CNU slipped a shot past CSB to take the 1-0 and would hold on to that one goal until the final buzzer.  

Waters finished with 4 saves and Kahlmeyer had 2 saves Friday night. Chloe Miller, Olivia Miller, Caralyn Conners, and Addison Stephani each had one shot during the game. Christopher Newport edged CSB in shots 11-4, with 7 of those shots on goal to a total of 0 shots on goal for the Bennies.  

The Bennies will have a day off on Saturday, but will be back on the field to round out their tournament play against Virginia Wesleyan on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m.