ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Catherine University soccer team is headed back to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoff Championship after defeating No. 3 St. Olaf College 1-0 in Thursday afternoon's semifinal at St. Kate's Field.
The victory sends the Wildcats (15-3-1) to their sixth consecutive MIAC Playoff Championship game and seventh championship appearance since 2017, continuing an impressive stretch of postseason success for the program.
St. Kate's will once again face Carleton College in the championship, setting up a rematch of the 2025 title game and the fourth championship meeting between the programs in the last five seasons.
The Wildcats wasted little time taking control of Thursday's semifinal, applying pressure from the opening whistle. Senior Bella Meier put St. Kate's on the board just 4:47 into the contest, scoring her 11th goal of the season off an assist from Ari Douvier. The goal proved to be the game-winner as the Wildcats secured their spot in Saturday's championship.
St. Catherine controlled the opening half, outshooting the Oles 7-1 while putting six shots on goal. The Wildcats carried their 1-0 advantage into halftime behind a strong defensive effort that limited St. Olaf's offensive opportunities.
The Oles increased their pressure in the second half, recording seven shots, including six on goal, as they searched for the equalizer. Junior goalkeeper Brianna Valdez answered the challenge, making six second-half saves to preserve the Wildcats' lead. Valdez finished with seven saves in a complete-game shutout, including a key stop in the 88th minute to help secure the victory.
St. Catherine finished with a 12-8 advantage in total shots and a 9-7 edge in shots on goal. Meier led the Wildcats with six shots, including four on target, while Lydia Benson added two shots on goal. The Wildcats' defense held St. Olaf scoreless for all 90 minutes despite the Oles' second-half push.
With Thursday's victory, St. Catherine advances to the MIAC Playoff Championship for the seventh time since 2017 and the sixth consecutive season in which the tournament has been held. The Wildcats have established themselves as one of the conference's most successful postseason programs, winning five MIAC Playoff Championships in 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Saturday's championship will feature another familiar opponent in Carleton. The two programs previously met in the conference championship in 2022, 2023 and 2025, with the Wildcats claiming titles in 2022 and 2023 before Carleton earned a 1-0 victory in last season's final. The 2026 matchup marks the second consecutive championship meeting between St. Catherine and Carleton, adding another chapter to their postseason rivalry.
St. Catherine will face Carleton College in the 2026 MIAC Women's Soccer Playoff Championship on Saturday, November 7 at 1 pm in Northfield. The winner will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament.
