Bennies blaze toward MIAC and NCAA playoffs

Riding a five-game winning streak following their Oct. 27 victory against St. Scholastica in Duluth, the St. Ben’s soccer squad looks to carry their momentum into the MIAC playoff tournament. With top rival St. Thomas no longer in the picture, the scene is set for Coach Steve Kimble and his team to claim CSB’s first MIAC title since 2013.

“I think everybody in the league probably thinks ‘oh now it’s our time.’ [St. Thomas] was recently getting their fair share of titles and top finishes so I think it has increased the energy around the league,” Kimble said, “A shot at the title feels a little more realistic without the Tommies sitting in your way.”

The Bennies sit comfortably in second place, with St. Kate’s atop the MIAC table. The squad’s only conference loss this season came at the hands of St. Kate’s on Sept. 15, when they fell 1-0 after giving up the contest’s only goal in the 63rd minute. Missed chances haunted the Bennies in that loss, putting four shots on net with no success.

St. Kate’s looks to carry an impressive win streak of their own into the MIAC tournament, having not lost a game since their Sept. 25 bout with St. Mary’s. The Wildcats of St. Kate’s are 7-0-1 in their last eight contests, which includes three shutouts against Carleton, St. Scholastica and Gustavus.

“The last four years they’ve come on strong and gotten us in some tough situations…we didn’t lose to them for 16 years and then within the last four it’s been tough to get a win against them,” Kimble said.

The key to success for the Bennies probably lies on the defensive side of the ball. Since beginning conference play in mid September, the Bennies have scored 18 goals while allowing their opponents a mere five. This defensive prowess has kept CSB near the top of the MIAC table throughout the regular season, and their five MIAC shutouts represent the most in the conference.

Part of the credit for that feat undoubtedly lies with junior goalkeeper Paige Kahlmeyer. Her 31 saves over the course of the regular season complement 10 games with a 100% save percentage.

The team is remaining consistent in their training despite stout defensive play and a five-game win streak.

“It’s important for us as seniors to keep the girls motivated on our goals and that starts in practice,” Senior Clara Noack said, “We hold each other to our highest standards and will continue to push one another to our limits.”

Noack notched her first goal of the season five minutes into the Oct. 23 1-0 win over Macalester, a feat which earned her CSB Athlete of the Week honors.

“We try to stay pretty consistent [with practice], it gets a little repetitive but I think when you’ve got a good team with a good rhythm keep doing it, it’s an ‘if it aint broke don’t fix it’ mentality. We’re on a roll now and we’re going to stay on it,” Kimble said.