ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Senior Olivia Miller believes the key to success for the 2024 College of Saint Benedict soccer team will be leaving everything on the field.

That 100-plus percent effort has long been the legacy of the program and will continue under the leadership of Miller and the rest of an eight-member senior class.

"I try to lead by example and leave everything out on the field every time we play," said Miller, who was named All-MIAC a year ago. "I remind our young players that every time you step on the field to play your heart out, play together and work together and try your best. That is all we can ask for. It is a way of building team chemistry, scoring some goals and winning games while having fun."

 

Saint Benedict, which has recorded 27 winning seasons since 1984, finished tied for third in the MIAC at 6-3-2 and boasted an 9-6-3 mark in 2023. CSB was 12-5-2 with an 8-2-1 MIAC record for second place in 2022 after going 11-4-3 with an 8-1-2 MIAC mark to finish second in 2021. In fact, the Bennies have finished in the top four in the MIAC in each of the past four seasons.

This year, CSB opens its 17-game schedule in 2024 with four home contests.

Directed by head coach Steve Kimble, the Bennies, will play six nonconference games and 11 contests in the MIAC. The conference quarterfinals will be held on Monday, Nov. 4 at the home of the highest seed. The MIAC semifinals will be at 2 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 7 and the MIAC Championship set for 2 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 8, with both at the home facility of the team with the highest seed. For complete schedule, click here.

'We have an absolute epic senior class. That group, along with the rest of their classmates, are going to lead us through a really tough schedule," said Kimble, who directed CSB to nine wins or more in seven of the past eight seasons.  "It's always good when you have veterans that lead the charge and I think they are going to be doing a fantastic job."

CSB opens the season with a home game against Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 5 p.m., on Friday, August 30, which will be followed by a home game on Sunday, Sept. 1 against Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 1 p.m. Against UW-Eau Claire, CSB is 15-10-2 all-time (8-4-1 at home) but lost a 3-2 decision on the road a year ago. As for UW-Stevens Point, the Bennies have a 3-7-2 mark all-time but delivered a 2-1 road win on Sept. 3, 2023.

On Sept. 7 at 2 p.m., the Bennies will face Wisconsin-Oshkosh and then take on Central College at 3:30 p.m., on Sunday Sept. 8, with both games at home.

Bennies are focused for 2024
As co-captains Miller and goalkeeper Annie Waters, look ahead to the start of the season, they do so with enthusiasm and focus.

"When coach was handing out jerseys to the first years (at start of practice), I got super emotional because I realized it was our last year," Miller said. "It seems like we were just in their place four years ago. I am enthusiastic about continuing to build the culture for this team and showing my teammates how lucky they are to be part of such a great program," added Miller, who also earned All-MIAC Playoff Team honors a year ago. In 18 games in 2023, she made 17 starts, accumulating 1,298 minutes while scoring two goals with four points. She has one game-winning goal, three career goals and six points.

Waters, who was Honorable Mention All-MIAC, ranked fifth in the MIAC in goals-against-average (.815) with 14 games played and 11 starts, recording 1,214.41 minutes play. Waters was sixth in the MIAC with 51 saves (11 goals allowed). She was fourth with six shutouts and ninth in saves per game at 3.64 in league play.

"We are just so excited about this team," said Waters, who was twice named MIAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2023. "All the seniors have been talking about how, with the talented incoming class coming in, we are really pumped for this season and what we can do."

"We have a lot of talent that can be used in different spots and a lot of people that can step up into various roles, noted Waters, who has a career record of 19-8-4, which included an 8-4-2 in 2023. In her career she has played 45 games and totaled 2,604:31 minutes while allowing 24 goals for 0.83 goals-against-average. She has 129 career saves for a 0.843 save percentage.

 

She is joined by a host of talented players, including Alli Voss, a senior forward named All-MIAC in 2022, who ranked second on the team with five goals and 12 points a year ago. She has 20 career goals and 48 points with nine game-winning shots. Junior Grace Fitzgibbons also returns on offense after scoring a pair of goals. Junior Addison Stephani, senior Sydney Burns, junior Regan Melz, and sophomore Avery Soli all had goals a year ago. In addition, seniors Ellie Wohnoutka, Emma Young, Emily Cavanaugh, and Natalie Parnell will also provide major contributions.

Overall, CSB was fifth in the MIAC in goals with 27 or 1.588 a game. CSB averaged 16.89 shots per game, including 8.61 shots on goal per game. Defensively, the Bennies allowed 16 goals or 1.31 per game. Led by Waters, the Bennies record 72 saves or a save percentage of .805.

As the season starts this week, Waters and Miller are focused on giving everything they have every time they step onto the field.

"No game or results is guaranteed," Waters said. We will play our hearts out every time as we can never know what can happen. We are so excited about this season and plan to give it our all."