Blazers Prevail in Battle with Scots 1-0

The script couldn’t have been any more perfect for Saturday’s MIAC game between the nationally ranked College of Saint Benedict soccer team and Macalester College.

The Blazers, ranked No. 22 in the nation, defeated the Scots 1-0 on a beautiful October afternoon in St. Joseph Minn., to improve to 7-0 in the MIAC and 12-0 overall. Macalester fell to 4-2 in the MIAC, 7-4 overall.

The Blazers relied on their stingy defense and another great effort from sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Strohm (Burnsville, Minn. / Apple Valley High School) to protect an early one-goal lead and improve their unbeaten streak to 15 games, dating back to Oct. 21, 2006.

The Blazers got on the board at the 26:40 mark of the first half when junior midfielder Maria Conroy (Monticello, Minn. /Monticello High School) placed a header out of the reach of Scots goalkeeper Jenny Lee. Junior Tina Lisk (Louisville, Colo. /Monarch) set up the goal when she floated a ball in front of the net where Conroy could head the ball into the net.

Conroy's reaction to her first collegiate goal was representative of the selflessness the team has approached each game with.

"I won’t take credit for the goal, it was just a combination of the good Lord, a sweet ball from Tina [Lisk], and being in the right place at the right time," Conroy said. 

Strohm played perhaps her best game in the net in the biggest game of the season, recording nine saves and facing tremendous pressure from the Macalester offense. Strohm, who was named to the d3kicks.com "Team of the Week" last week, earned her eighth shutout of the season. The Blazers have now shutout opponents in nine of the team's 12 games.

With six games remaining (including four in the MIAC), the Blazers and head coach Kate McNeil understand that their work is not finished. The Blazers face another challenge when Hamline University plays the Blazers 4 p.m. Tuesday evening in St. Joseph, Minn.