ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- The College of Saint Benedict soccer team (3-3-4, 0-2-2 MIAC), is preparing to host a MIAC matchup against St. Catherine (6-2-2, 3-0-1 MIAC) this Saturday (Oct. 5) as part of homecoming festivities.

The event will also feature a halftime ceremony honoring the 2024 CSB Athletics Hall of Fame class, which includes nine individuals and two teams. The induction ceremony will follow that evening at the Benedicta Center at 7 p.m.

Season Overview

The Bennies have had a solid start to the season, winning three of their first five matches, with four played at home. Notable victories include a thrilling 3-2 win over UW-Stevens Point and a 3-1 triumph against UW-Oshkosh, where senior forward Alli Voss scored a hat trick. CSB also achieved a 1-0 win over Central College but has faced challenges recently, with ties against Wartburg (1-1) and Hamline (0-0), and losses to Saint Mary's (2-1) and Augsburg (1-0). Voss and Annie Waters have both received MIAC weekly honors this season.

Historical Performance

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

St. Catherine Overview

St. Catherine, led by head coach Jesse Campos in his eighth season, currently holds a record of 6-2-2 overall and 3-0-1 in MIAC play. Campos has previously guided the Wildcats to their first MIAC championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. This season, the Wildcats average 1.14 goals per game and have a strong offensive presence, led by forward Ari Green, who has netted five goals. Senior goalkeeper Kate Praetz boasts an impressive .831 save percentage.

Series History

This matchup marks the 28th meeting between the two teams, with CSB holding a 17-8-2 all-time advantage, including an 8-3-2 record at home. The last encounter on September 30, 2023, resulted in a 2-0 loss for the Bennies.

Key Stats for CSB

• Goals per game: 1.0
• Goals conceded per game: 1.0
• Shots per game: 15.7
• Shot-on-goal percentage: 50%

Top Players:

• Alli Voss: Currently seventh in the MIAC with 0.50 goals per game and sixth in points per game (1.30). She leads CSB with five goals and three assists.
• Annie Waters: Fourth in the MIAC with a 0.718 goals against average and first in save percentage (.889). She ranks sixth in the conference with an average of 5.11 saves per game.
• Emma Young: Tied for sixth in the MIAC with three assists.

Coach Steve Kimble leads CSB

Head coach Steve Kimble is in his 16th season with CSB, where he has achieved ten top-four finishes in the MIAC. With a career record of 152-85-35 at CSB and a 95-46-16 mark in conference play, he has led the team to consistent success, including two MIAC championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.