ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict soccer team (3-4-4, 0-3-2 MIAC) is preparing to host a MIAC matchup against Gustavus (5-3-3, 1-3-1 MIAC) at the CSB Outdoor Athletic Complex on Saturday, October 12, at 1 p.m. CSB will also celebrate Employee Day.

The Bennies started the season strong, securing three wins in their first five matches, with notable victories including a thrilling 3-2 win over UW-Stevens Point and a 3-1 triumph against UW-Oshkosh, where senior forward Alli Voss netted a hat trick. They also achieved a 1-0 victory over Central College but have faced difficulties recently, resulting in ties against Wartburg (1-1) and Hamline (0-0), alongside losses to Saint Mary's (2-1), Augsburg (1-0), and St. Catherine (3-0). Both Voss and Annie Waters have garnered MIAC weekly honors this season.

Gustavus Overview
Under head coach Laura Burnett-Kurie, in her 13th season, Gustavus holds a record of 5-3-3 overall, including 1-3-1 in MIAC play. Last season, Burnett-Kurie led the team to a 9-7-1 overall record and a 5-5-1 MIAC mark, tying for sixth in the conference. This season, the Gusties are averaging 1.36 goals per game, with a .531 shots on goal percentage. Senior forward Ellen Becken leads the team with 11 points from four goals and three assists, while midfielder Cambelle Walspurger has contributed three goals from 36 shots, 22 of which were on target. In goal, senior Katelyn Olson boasts an impressive .868 save percentage and a 0.82 goals-against average.

Series History
This match marks the 42nd meeting between the two teams, with the Bennies holding a slight edge at 19-18-4 overall, including a 12-13-1 record at home. In their last encounter on October 7, 2023, the Bennies fell 1-0 in Saint Peter, Minn.

CSB Insights
The Bennies average 0.91 goals per game while allowing 1.18. With 166 total shots and 40 corner kicks, senior Alli Voss leads the squad with five goals (ranking 8th in the MIAC) and three assists, while sophomore Avery Soli has added four goals. Senior Emma Young has recorded three assists. In goal, senior Annie Waters holds a 0.962 goals-against average (5th in MIAC), with 53 saves (3rd in MIAC) and a .855 save percentage, ranking fifth in the conference for saves per game at 4.82. Overall, CSB goalkeepers have made 63 saves and maintained a 1.18 goals-against average with an .829 save percentage. Voss ranks seventh in the MIAC with 3.45 shots per game and ninth in shots on goal at 1.36.

Historical Performance
CSB has a rich history, recording 27 winning seasons since 1984. Last season, the team finished tied for third in the MIAC with a 6-3-2 conference record and an overall mark of 9-6-3. Consistently competitive, CSB has finished in the MIAC's top four for the past four seasons, including second-place finishes in 2021 and 2022.

Kimble leads CSB
Head coach Steve Kimble, now in his 16th season at CSB, has achieved ten top-four finishes in the MIAC, with a career record of 152-86-35 at the college and 95-47-16 in conference play. Under his guidance, the team has experienced consistent success, including two MIAC championships and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.