College of Saint Benedict Athletics

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. - The College of Saint Benedict soccer team picked up a key Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win, as the Bennies bested the Cardinals, 5-1, Tuesday, Sept. 29. With the victory, CSB improves to 7-1-1 overall (2-1-1 MIAC), while SMU stumbles to 3-6-1 (1-3 MIAC).  

 

Saint Benedict's offensive flurry was led by sophomore Elly Prairie (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park). Prairie finished with a goal and two assists in the contest, totaling four points for the second time in her career. All five goals were scored by different Bennies, highlighted by first-year Ella Verkinderen's (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) first collegiate score. Sophomore Allison Cammerrer (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) was second on the team in points, as she notched one goal and an assist for a career-high of three.  

 

Sophomore Anna Mollenhauer (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) logged the win in goal, making three saves with the lone goal allowed over the first 45 minutes of action. First-year Samantha Hartnett (Saint Michael, Minn./St. Michael Albertville) closed out the game between the pipes, recording two saves to tie her career-best.  

 

A statistically-balanced contest saw CSB finish with the advantage in shots (15-11), shots on goal (8-6) and saves (5-3), while the Cardinals snagged the edge in corners kicks, 5-2. 

 

Saint Mary's scored first, as the Cardinals broke the stalemate just four minutes into the game.  

 

The Bennies quickly regrouped and looked ready to score, as great moves by first-year Eva Gower (Plymouth, Minn./Orono) in the 20th minute generated a shot, but her boot found the hands of the SMU keeper to keep it a 1-nil game in favor of the visitors.  

 

Saint Ben's found the equalizer in the 27th minute, as Cammerrer sent a pass to Prairie, who sent it through the five-hole of the Cardinals goalkeeper to even the score at 1-1. 

 

Mollenhauer came up with a save at the 30-minute mark, thwarting a SMU scoring opportunity with a save to keep the score level at 1-1. 

 

Cammerrer and Prairie continued keep a strong connection, this time switching roles in the box score. Prairie ripped a shot that ricocheted off the left post, falling on the right boot of Cammerrer who tapped it in to put the home team ahead, 2-1, in the 32nd minute.  

 

Junior Jessica Decowski (Eden Prairie, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret) got in on the scoring, as she buried a shot into the back of the net with just over two minutes remaining in the first half. The score sent Saint Benedict into the break with a 3-1 lead.  

 

Saint Ben's kept momentum in its favor to begin the second half, as a shot by Gower was saved and later pushed out of bounds by a SMU defender, setting up a corner kick for the home team. The Bennies used the corner to their advantage, as first-year Autumn Simmons (Sartell, Minn./Sartell) went back to the flag. Simmons tapped the ball to sophomore Tatum Janezich (Rogers, Minn./Providence Academy) standing nearby, and Janezich fired off a shot that soared through the traffic near the net and into the back for a goal, giving CSB a 4-1 advantage in the 48th minute. 

 

Saint Benedict closed out its scoring frenzy in the 67th minute, as Verkinderen ripped a shot into the back of the net. Verkinderen's goal was set up by a beautiful pass from Prairie, leaving the first-year with an easy opportunity for her first collegiate score. 

 

A handball gave the Cardinals a free kick opportunity a few feet from the goal, but Saint Benedict's defense came up clutch with a blocked shot to retain the score at 5-1.  

 

The Bennies' wall came through once more, rejecting another free kick opportunity for the visitors just outside of the penalty area, sending the ball flying back towards the benches. The strong defensive efforts to close the game helped Saint Ben's coast to a 5-1 win, securing three big points in the MIAC regular season race.  

 

Saint Benedict remains home to host Macalester College Saturday, Oct. 3. Action is set for 3:30 p.m. on the family weekend for CSB and Saint John's University.