ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Continuing its perfect start to the season, the College of Saint Benedict soccer team opened Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play with a 3-1 win at Bethel University Wednesday night, Sept. 16. The win boosts the Bennies to 6-0 on the season (1-0 MIAC), while Bethel drops to 1-3 overall, 0-1 in MIAC contests.Â
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The Bennies got on the board first, needing just 12 minutes to do so. Sophomore
Emma Johnson (Lakeville, Minn./Eastview) sent a 40-yard pass, dropping the ball perfectly to first-year
Lilly DeRosier (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd). With the goalie unexpecting the quick clear, DeRosier floated one up and in for a goal, her fourth of the season. The assist was Johnson's first collegiate helper and point. Â
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Quickly making a name for herself, first-year Eva Gower (Plymouth, Minn./Orono) made it four straight games with a goal. Already having shown her ability to score from anywhere, Gower ripped one into the top of the net from nearly 30 yards out, making it 2-nil in the 16th minute. Â
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Bethel quickly cut the lead in half with a goal, ending CSB's 324-minute shutout streak, scoring in the 24th minute. Â
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Junior Sienna Chase (Tustin, Calif./Orange Lutheran) nearly tacked on another score in the final minute of the opening half, but BU's goalkeeper came up with a stop to end the Bennies into the break ahead, 2-1.Â
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Keeping momentum on its side, CSB wasted no time to begin the second half. First-year Mia Schellenberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) tried to get her second goal of the season, but once again the Royals made a crucial save, this one coming in the 50th minute of play. Â
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Quickly getting the ball back after being offsides, Gower again showed off her range. After shaking off a defender, the first-year found herself with an open chance to score, burying a boot from nearly 35 yards out. The brace is her second of the season and brings her goals total to a team-best six. Â
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Bethel put up the final two scoring opportunities of the contest, but sophomore
Anna Mollenhauer (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) thwarted both chances to seal the 3-1 victory. Â
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Senior Avery Soli (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) and sophomore Laila Totushek (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park)Â joined in on the scoring, as both added an assist in the contest. Starting in goal for the Bennies, senior
Rhianna Anya (Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson Sr.) helped secure the win alongside Mollenhauer's second-half performance. Â
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CSB closed the contest out with the advantage in shots (14-11), shots on goal (7-3) and corner kicks (6-5), while BU grabbed the edge in saves, 4-2. Â
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Saint Benedict returns home to host Gustavus Adolphus College Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m.Â
