NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College women's soccer team won its eighth consecutive game, claiming a 3-0 triumph over visiting Saint Mary's University. The victory coupled with other results across the conference clinched at least a share of the MIAC regular-season crown for Carleton along with the No. 1 seed in the upcoming MIAC Playoffs.
 
Carleton (15-1-1, 9-0-1 MIAC) won the 2022 conference title outright and this marks the fifth time in program history that the Knights have secured the MIAC crown, having also won the 1982 and 2010 titles outright in addition to sharing the 2011 crown with Saint Benedict. With 15 victories this season, Carleton has already matched the 2010 squad for the second-highest win total in program annals.
 
Saturday was also Senior Day at Bell Field and a chance for the Knights to honor Cate Patterson and Casey MacVeagh, a duo that has written their names all over the Carleton record books. Patterson is fifth in recorded team history with 23 goals, first with 20 assists, and third with 66 career points. MacVeagh is ninth with 19 goals, third with 15 assists, and eighth with 53 points in her three seasons.
 
"I am so incredibly proud of this team," said Carleton head coach Jessica Mueller. "Today was about our seniors, Casey and Cate. Two of the best to ever wear a Carleton jersey. I read something once that said, 'Good teams have good players. Great teams have great teammates.' That's our team, full of great teammates. Casey and Cate set the example and always put the team first. To win a conference title on a day we dedicated to them is extra special for all of us."
 
Kathryn Kresse nearly opened the scoring in the 11th minute, rattling the woodwork with her 12-yard strike. She was able to give Carleton the lead with only 28 seconds remaining in the first half. Dylan Baker collected a loose ball at the endline and laid it off for Kresse at the edge of the six-yard box for a shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the side netting. It was Kresse's team-leading eighth goal of the season.
 
The Knights doubled their lead in the 60th minute. Patterson sent a cross in that deflected off the Saint Mary's goal keeper, and Saheli Patel was in the right spot to knock the loose ball across the line for her fourth goal of the campaign. It was Patterson's 20th career assist, adding to her own program record.
 
The final goal came in the 70th minute. Sam Gotch sent a cross in from the left wing, and Lauren Caldwell got inside her defender to touch the ball in to the left side of the net for her fifth goal of the season.
 
Carleton finished with a 20-2 edge in shots, with a 9-1 margin in attempts on frame.
 
"Our goal is to improve every day, every week, every year," Mueller said. "Now we prepare to compete in the regular-season finale and then in the playoffs where anything can happen. We are excited to keep moving forward one day at a time all the while enjoying every moment."
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton closes the regular season with a visit to College of Saint Benedict on Saturday Oct. 28 at 1:00 p.m. A standings point for the Knights (via a win or tie) or a dropped standings point for St. Catherine (via a loss or tie) will give Carleton the outright MIAC title for the 2023 season.
 
Most Wins in Program History
18-6-0 (.750) — in 2008
15-3-2 (.800) — in 2010
15-1-1 (.912) — in 2023
14-3-0 (.824) — in 1982
13-5-0 (.722) — in 2007
13-2-3 (.806) — in 2022
 
Most Career Goals
1.         40 – Birungi Mutebi – 1998-01
2.         30 – Niki Tomita – 2008-11
3.         26 – Nora Mertz – 2016-19
4.         25 – Rose Koch – 1996-99
5.         23 – M. Russell-Dempsey – 1998-01
            23 – Cate Patterson – 2019-pres
7.         22 – Ellie Wilson – 2011-14
8.         21 – Nicky Bloom – 2005-08
9.         19 – Marlena Hartman-Filson – 2009-12
            19 – Casey MacVeagh, 2021-pres
 
Most Career Assists
1.         20 – Cate Patterson – 2019-pres
2.         16 – Mia Zutz – 2006-08
3.         15 – Casey MacVeagh, 2021-pres
4.         14 – Lily VanderStaay – 2008-11
5.         13 – Alicia Fischer – 1994,96-97
            13 – Bailey Ulbricht – 2011-14
7.         12 – M. Russell-Dempsey – 1998-01
 
Most Career Points
1.         89 – Birungi Mutebi (40g, 9a) – 1998-01
2.         69 – Niki Tomita (30g, 9a) – 2008-11
3.         66 – Cate Patterson (23g, 20a) – 2019-pres
4.         58 – M.Russell-Dempsey (23g, 12a) – 1998-01
            58 – Rose Koch (25g, 8a) – 1996-99
6.         56 – Nora Mertz (26g, 4a) – 2016-19
7.         54 – Ellie Wilson (22g, 10a) – 2011-14
8.         53 – Casey MacVeagh (19g, 15a) – 2021-pres
9.         50 – Nicky Bloom (21g, 8a) – 2005-08
            50 – Lily VanderStaay (18g, 14a) – 2008-11