ST. JOSEPH, Minn. - After securing the No. 4 seed, the College of Saint Benedict soccer team will host fifth-seed Macalester College for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Communications (MIAC) Playoff Quarterfinals Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 3. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at CSB Stadium. The first 200 students (Bennie or Johnnie) will receive free admission with a student ID, courtesy of CSB Student Senate.  

 

CSB (12-1-3, 7-1-3 MIAC) enters playoffs off a 3-1 win at The College of St. Scholastica Saturday, Oct. 31. It marked the 12th victory of the season for the Bennies, the most since 2022. First-year Eva Gower (Plymouth, Minn./Orono) recorded a brace in the game to lead the Bennies to victory. Fellow first-year Lilly DeRosier (Baxter, Minn./Blaine) added the other goal of the game, while tacking on an assist for a three-point showing. Juniors Gabby Fernholz (Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) and Sienna Chase (Tustin, Calif./Orange Lutheran) each notched an assist. In goal, senior Rhianna Anya (Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson Sr.) registered the win after playing the first 45 minutes. First-year Samantha Hartnett (Saint Michael, Minn./St. Michael Albertville) checked in after halftime, giving up the lone goal of the game off a penalty kick. She finished with CSB's lone save, as the Bennie defense limited the Saints (6-10-2, 2-7-2 MIAC) to just four shots in the game, two of which were on goal.   

 

Gower has led the offense all season, as her 12 goals and 28 points top the team. Sophomore Elly Prairie (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) follows with seven goals and 18 points, while DeRosier rounds out the top three with six goals and 14 points. Sophomore Allison Cammerrer (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) holds the team-lead in assists with five, followed closely by Gower, Prairie and Chase with four apiece. 

 

In goal, Anya has paced the Bennies with 35 saves spanning 765:00 minutes between the pipes, owning a .935 goals against average. Her .921 save percentage ranks third in Division III this season, while the CSB goalkeeper staff as a unit is 13th (.888). Both marks lead the MIAC. Sophomore Anna Mollenhauer (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) sits second on the team with 26 saves across 315:00 minutes of action. 

 

Saint Benedict will make its 14th appearance in the MIAC Playoffs, having previously made it in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Bennies have twice won the playoff championship, taking the crown in 2011 and 2013. In total, CSB holds a 7-11 overall record in the postseason tournament, including a 2-1 mark against Macalester (8-9, 6-5 MIAC). The two teams last met in the MIAC Playoffs in 2013, as the Bennies defeated the Scots, 3-2, to earn the MIAC Playoff Championship. Peggy Renier, Taylor Hedin, and Valerie Clintsman all scored for the then-Blazers. Sarah de St. Aubin made 12 saves across all 90 minutes in goal to seal the victory.  

 

CSB will face Macalester for the 51st time dating back to 1984. MAC holds the advantage all-time, 22-17-11, but Saint Ben's secured the win in the regular season meeting this season, Oct. 3. The 2-nil win featured goals from DeRosier and sophomore Veronica Warren (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View), while Anya totaled four saves in the shutout for the Bennies. The Scots make the trip off a 3-nil win at Augsburg University Friday, Oct. 30. 

 

Per MIAC Playoffs regulations, the stream will be behind a paywall, but can be found by clicking here. Tickets can be purchased in advance here. Free live stats can be accessed here.