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DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's hockey program will be entering its third season on Friday when it opens at home for a two-game series against conference-foe Concordia University-Wisconsin at Mars Lakeview Arena.
Game Schedule: (Game Day Media)
Friday vs. Concordia (Wis.) – 7 p.m.
(Live Video on Saints Sports Net | Live Stats)
Saturday vs. Concordia (Wis.) – 2 p.m.
(Live Stats)
About the Saints
2011-12 Record: 13-9-5, 11-6-3 NCHA
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The Saints saw a six-game improvement in their second season, more than doubling their win total in conference play to finish tied for fourth.
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CSS, who struggled in close games its inaugural season, was 8-2 in one-goal games a season ago and 7-0 when leading after two periods.
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The Saints made their first NCHA O'Brien Cup playoffs last year, getting swept by Lake Forest College (Ill.) in the first round.
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CSS welcomes back both Monika Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftsschule KV Chur (Swiss National Team)) and Nina Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftschule KV Chur (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)) this season. Both earned a bronze medal playing for the Swiss National Team at the IIHF Women's World Hockey Championships last April.
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Nina became the first All-American in program history last season, named an AHCA second team West Region All-American.
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Nina had one of the best regular seasons in NCHA women's league history. She led the conference with 18 goals, 18 assists and 36 points. In 12 seasons, she's one of only four players to average 1.80 or more points per game in NCHA play. Her 36 points ranked second most all-time in league history.
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Nina led all freshmen in Division III with 1.64 points per game and finished third overall. She was fifth in the country in goals per game (0.82) and ninth in assists per game (0.82). Nina will be an assistant captain this season.
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Monika, along with her sister, was named to the All-NCHA team. She was second in the conference to her sister in points (29) and assists (18). She recorded 11 goals during league-play, which ranked ninth, including four power-play goals, which put her eighth.
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Monika finished the regular season, recording one goal in each of the last three games.
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Also returning are honorable mention All-NCHA selections Michelle Fischer (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall), Brenna Flatley (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka HS) and Alana Levido (Richmond, British Columbia/Burnaby North Secondary (Pacific Steelers)). Fischer will wear the “C” for the second consecutive year, while Flatley goes from the “A” to the “C”.
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Fischer was sixth in the conference with 16 assists and 10th with 23 points last season. Both Flatley and Levido were in the top 10 for assists by defensemen in the league.
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The third leading scorer from a year ago returns in Jordy Klimek (Hastings, Minn./Hastings HS). Klimek had 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points last season.
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Defenseman Alex Blair (Drake, Saskatchewan/Lanigan Central HS) had a solid freshman campaign in 2011-12 with four goals and seven assists. Blair was named to the All-NCHA All-Rookie Team.
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Joining the 15 returning skaters are transfers Gina Dodge (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS (Minn.-Duluth)) from Minnesota-Duluth and Sam Moore (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS (Lindenwood)) of Lindenwood University (Mo.).
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In three seasons with the Bulldogs, Dodge played in 103 games, scored six goals and added four assists. In her first two seasons, Dodge played in all 75 of UMD's games, including scoring four goals her freshman season when the Bulldogs won the National Championship.
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Moore played in 18 games, scoring three goals and adding an assist at Lindenwood last year. She was a top 30 scorer in the state of Minnesota her senior season at Lakeville South.
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In net, head coach Jackie MacMillan brought in a familiar face in Teraysa White (Belgrade, Maine/Brewster Academy (New England College)), a senior transfer from New England College. White played for Coach MacMillan at New England College her freshman season. She played 75 games between the pipes for the Pilgrims, accumulating 31 wins and a 2.25 goals-against-average.
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Sheridan Friesen (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Ontario Hockey Academy) also returns in goal for the Saints. In her freshman season, Friesen recorded 184 saves and five wins.
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The Saints were picked to finish fourth, according to the NCHA preseason poll.
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The NCHA women's league will go from 11 teams to seven teams after this season, due to the University of Wisconsin schools departing and forming the WIAC women's hockey conference.
About the Falcons
2011-12 Record: 7-15-3, 5-13-2 NCHA
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The Falcons finished ninth in the conference a season ago, missing the NCHA O'Brien Cup playoffs. Just a year prior, the Falcons finished tied for fourth in the league.
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Concordia already opened their season this past weekend falling to both Concordia College-Moorhead (3-1) and Saint Mary's University (4-1).
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Freshman Olivia Vogel scored both goals for the Falcons this weekend.
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Concordia needs to replace last year's leading scorer Alyssa Isaackson, who graduated.
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Also gone due to graduation is the leader in assists from a season ago Hilary Christiansen.
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In net, the four freshmen that all saw action a season ago are back. Andrea Mizanskey played the first game and allowed three goals, stopping 30 shots, while Kaitlyn Evans played the second game and allowed two goals, stopping 26 shots.
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There is just one senior and one junior on the roster for the Falcons and 23 freshmen and sophomores.
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The Falcons were picked to finish eighth in the NCHA preseason poll.
Series History: (CSS is 2-1-1 all-time vs. Concordia (Wis.))
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The Saints tied and defeated the Falcons last year in Mequon, Wis.
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Jordy Klimek (Hastings, Minn./Hastings HS) scored a goal late in regulation to get the tie in the first game.
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Nina Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftschule KV Chur (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)) scored twice in the 4-2 victory.
NCHA Preseason Poll
1. UW-River Falls, (6) 190
2. UW-Superior, (3) 162
3. Adrian College, (1) 150
4. College of St. Scholastica, (1) 134
5. Lake Forest College, 112
6. St. Norbert College, 106
7. UW-Stevens Point, 98
t8. Concordia University Wisconsin, 62
t8. UW-Eau Claire, 62
10. Marian University, 28
11. Finlandia University, 12
