ST. PAUL, Minn. - The defending conference playoff champions advance to the 2018 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Women's Soccer Playoff Semifinals with a 1-0 victory over the No. 5 seed, the Bennies from the College of Saint Benedict. The Bennies finished the 2018 campaign an impressive 8-7-1 and 7-3-1 in the MIAC. St. Kate's added two losses in their overall loss column this season, topping them earlier this month in St. Joseph 4-1. 

There was little action in the first 45 minutes of play with the Wildcats firing off eight shots in the half to the Bennies just five. 

Junior forward Allie Bird (Maple Grove, Minn.) was the leading Wildcat in the quarterfinal game with four shots overall and two SOG as the Bennies played a tough defensive attack.

Bird was clutch on a breakaway pass from non-other than the teams assists leader, Sofia Campbell (St. Paul, Minn. / Nova Classical Academy) in the 76th minute. Campbell now has seven assists on the season and is tied for 5th in the MIAC for assists on the season. 

Today's goal was Bird's fifth goal of the season and third in the last five games. If you recall from last season, it was Bird who scored the game-winners in both the semifinal and championship games to lead her team to the 2017 MIAC Playoff Championship. 

The Wildcats will travel to the University of St. Thomas (UST) on Wednesday, October 31 for a 2 p.m. semifinal game. The Wildcats dropped one to UST in the regular season on October 13. The Tommies lone goal came from Mallory DeBoom five minutes into the game.