VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The College of Saint Benedict soccer team knew it would have its hands full on the East Coast this weekend, but CSB was able to hang right with a top-25 team Friday night.
 
Its first game of the year was delayed several hours due to rain and lightning in the area, but when the weather cleared, Saint Benedict fell 1-0 to No. 24 Virginia Wesleyan in Virginia Beach.
 
The two teams were scoreless in the first period, and junior goalie Kendall Koenen made a pair of saves to keep VWU – which made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2017 – off the board. The Marlins scored the lone goal of the game just over two minutes into the second half on an unassisted shot in the 47^th minute.
 
Koenen made two more saves in the second half to give Saint Benedict a chance, but CSB was unable to find the back of the net.
 
Virginia Wesleyan finished with 14 shots to CSB's five, and had five shots on net to Saint Benedict's two. Sydney Sherek and Mara Flaherty each had a shot on net for CSB.
 
Saint Benedict is back in action at 7:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, Sept. 1, when it takes on No. 17 Christopher Newport in Virginia Beach.