ST. JOSEPH, Minn. - After a perfect nonconference slate, the College of Saint Benedict soccer team will begin Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play at Bethel University Wednesday night, Sept. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Royal Stadum.  

 

The Bennies have started the season 5-0, marking the best start under the direction of Steve Kimble, and the best start since the 2007 squad won its first 12 games. The perfect beginning put Saint Ben's at No. 4 in the first United Soccer Coaches Region IX Poll. CSB was one of two MIAC institutions listed, as Carleton College was second.  

 

Saint Benedict enters the midweek match off a 10-nil win over University of Minnesota Morris Sunday afternoon, Sept. 13. It marked the third consecutive shutout for the Bennies, who have not given up a goal in 301 minutes. First-year Lilly DeRosier (Baxter, Min./Brainerd) and sophomore Elly Prairie (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) led the Bennies as each posted the first brace of their careers. Six other Bennies scored a goal in the game, as first-year Mia Schellenberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) and senior Anna Jones (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) each net the first of their careers. Ten different Bennies added assists on the goals.    

 

First-year Eva Gower (Plymouth, Minn./Orono) leads the offense with four goals and 10 points. DeRosier and Prairie are second on the squad, as both have three goals and seven points. Sophomore Veronica Warren (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) joins Gower at the top of the team with two goals. 

 

All four Saint Benedict goalkeepers have contributed to the team's successful beginning. Sophomore Anna Mollenhauer (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) leads the team with 15 saves across 135 minutes in goal. Senior Rhianna Anya (Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson Sr.) is second with six stops across 135 minutes. Sophomore Claire McGrath (Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray) and first-year Samantha Hartnett (Saint Michael, Minn./St. Michael Albertville) have each added two saves in 90 minutes between the iron. 

 

CSB and Bethel (1-2) will meet for the 34th time, as the lengthy series dates back to 1993. The Bennies bring a 28-2-3 all-time record on the road with them, including a 15-0-1 mark when playing at BU. Saint Ben's won the most recent meeting, 3-nil, Sept. 20, 2025, and has won six of the last seven battles with the Royals. The 2025 victory was powered by a brace from now-senior Avery Soli (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine), while Addison Stephani also scored in the contest. Anya and McGrath split the shutout in goal, led by six saves from Anya. The Royals most recently defeated University of Wisconsin-River Falls Monday, Sept. 7, winning 3-nil at home. 

 

The game will be live streamed, which can be found here, while live stats can be accessed by clicking here.