ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — With confidence building and a three-game winning streak in hand, the College of Saint Benedict soccer team is headed back on the road, where a tough MIAC showdown awaits. The Bennies (4-5-0 overall, 2-0-0 MIAC) will take on Gustavus Adolphus (4-1-4, 1-0-1 MIAC) at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, in St. Peter, hoping to extend their recent run of dominant play.

The momentum began to shift for Saint Benedict after a challenging nonconference schedule to start the season. Last weekend, the Bennies found their rhythm in a trio of home games, outscoring opponents by a combined 12-2 margin.

The run began with a clinical 3-0 MIAC-opening win over Bethel on Sept. 20. Junior Avery Soli scored two goals and senior Addison Stephani added another, while goalkeepers Claire McGrath and Rhianna Anya shared the clean sheet. That momentum carried over the next day in a 5-2 thumping of UW-Stout. Soli struck twice again, and Stephani, Summer Seamans, and Jessica Decowski — who notched her first career goal — all contributed to the scoreline.

The weekend concluded with a rescheduled game against the College of Saint Scholastica, originally halted due to weather on Sept. 17. Scoreless at halftime, the Bennies exploded in the second half. Stephani scored just 49 seconds in off an assist from first-year Abby Paloranta, her first career point. Goals from first-year Elly Prairie (assisted by Seamans) and Seamans herself followed, before Stephani sealed the 4-0 win with her second goal of the match in the 89th minute — this time set up by team points leader Avery Soli.

Soli, Stephani Powering the Offense
Soli has emerged as one of the MIAC's most dangerous attackers. Over the three-game stretch, she racked up four goals and an assist, totaling 10 points — the most by a Bennie in a single weekend since Megan Thompson in 2019. Her performance earned her MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. She follows in the footsteps of junior goalkeeper Rhianna Anya, who earned MIAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition just one week earlier.

Stephani, meanwhile, now has five goals and 11 points on the year, tied with Soli for the team lead in goals and just one point back overall. The senior forward also reached career totals of nine goals and 25 points, continuing her reliable presence up front.

Saint Benedict's early schedule featured tough tests, including a 4-0 loss to No. 5 Emory and a narrow 2-1 defeat to Wartburg. But the lessons learned in those early-season battles seem to be paying dividends now. The Bennies' first win came on Sept. 13 — a gritty 1-0 victory over UW-Eau Claire — with first-year Elly Prairie scoring her first collegiate goal.
The following day, CSB battled UW-Oshkosh in a 2-1 loss, though Stephani opened her scoring account for the year in that match.

In Net: Trio of Goalkeepers Stepping Up
CSB has relied on a rotation of goalkeepers throughout the season. Junior Rhianna Anya has posted the strongest numbers so far — a 0.42 goals against average, .960 save percentage, and 24 saves. First year Claire McGrath has taken on significant minutes as well, with 33 saves and a .805 save percentage. First-year Anna Mollenhauser has also contributed valuable time in goal.

Overall, the Bennies are averaging 1.88 goals per game while allowing 1.50. They've taken 16.1 shots per game compared to 19.5 by opponents and have totaled 67 saves through nine games.

Scouting the Gusties
Saturday's opponent, Gustavus Adolphus, entered the match up with an impressive 4-1-4 record, including a 1-0-1 start in MIAC play under first-year head coach Lauren Johnson — a former Gustie standout herself.

The Gusties are coming off a 1-0 win over Luther and have recently tied both Nebraska Wesleyan and Saint Scholastica. Their MIAC victory came against Augsburg in a 4-3 shootout.

Statistically, Gustavus closely mirrors CSB with 16 goals on the year (1.78 per game) while allowing 10 (1.11 per game). The Gusties have the edge in shots per game, 17.1 to 12.2. Offensive leaders Cambelle Waldspurger and Haillee Wilson have each scored five goals. In goal, Katelyn Olson has a .825 save percentage and 1.11 goals against average.

Series History
The matchup between Saint Benedict and Gustavus Adolphus has been tightly contested over the decades. CSB holds a slight 20-18-4 edge all-time, including a 1-0 win last season on Oct. 12 in St. Joseph. On the road, the Bennies are 7-5-3 against the Gusties, with an overall 19-17-4 record in MIAC meetings. Their first match up dates back to 1985 — a 7-0 win for Gustavus.

Kimble looking for 100 career MIAC win
Head coach Steve Kimble, now in his 17th season at the helm, continues to shape the program with consistency and competitiveness. With a career record of 158-95-35 (including 99 MIAC wins), he's guided CSB to 13 winning seasons and 11 MIAC Playoff appearances. The team finished third in the conference last year and looks poised to contend once again.