The 2006-07 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Women's Hockey season begins much like recent years as Gustavus and St. Thomas enter as conference favorites. Either the Gusties or the Tommies have won the last six MIAC Championships and it is likely that these two teams will battle for the crown again in 2006-07. St. Olaf, Saint Mary's, and Bethel will contend for playoffs spots and attempt to knock off Gustavus and St. Thomas. The five other MIAC teams will look to break into the MIAC Playoffs after missing out last season. The MIAC Women's Hockey Playoffs will take place February 27 - March 3, 2007.

Two-time reigning MIAC regular season champion and three-time reigning MIAC Playoff champion Gustavus enters 2006-07 as the MIAC Coach's choice as preseason favorite. The Gusties return three-time MIAC MVP and All-American Andrea Peterson along with four other All-MIAC performers to a team ranked third in the preseason national poll. St. Thomas graduated nine seniors last season, but there is still plenty of talent for the Tommies to contend on both the conference and national levels. Senior Katie Jetland, Maggie Toft, and Allison Turgeon all will provide excellent talent and leadership for the Tommies in 2006-07. St. Olaf will look to compete with Gustavus and St. Thomas for a top spot in the conference again this season. The Oles feature two-time All-MIAC senior forward Susannah Brokl along with a number of experienced juniors and sophomores.

Saint Mary's will attempt to make their seventh consecutive appearance in the MIAC Playoffs in 2006-07. In order for the Cardinals to reach the playoffs, senior goalkeeper Nikki Jung will need to continue to be solid between the pipes. Bethel enters 2006-07 fresh off their best season in program history last year when the Royals went 10-7-1 in conference play. Sophomores Beth Spurrier, Bethany Murphy, and Sandra Felten are players to watch on a talented Royal squad under first-year coach Charlie Burggraf. Augsburg head coach Jill Pohtilla will have the youngest team in her 12 seasons at Augsburg, but Pohtilla is confident her Auggies can return to the playoffs. Augsburg sophomore forward Tiffany Magnuson will lead the Auggies scoring punch after being named All-MIAC in 2005-06.

Ace Gregg takes over the Concordia program as head coach in 2006-07. If Gregg's Cobbers intend on making the MIAC Playoffs, junior captain Ceara Bergsrud will need to lead the way. Hamline will look to continue their steady improvement again this season and make a push for the playoffs. The Pipers return junior All-MIAC selection Marie Gross to a young and improving squad. First-year coach Patrick Michaud will look to help move Saint Benedict up the MIAC standings in 2006-07. The Blazers will be led by seniors Stephanie Gassert and Erin Baldwin. St. Catherine will utilize one of the best recruiting classes in school history to make a move up from the bottom of the conference. Leading the Wildcat attack in 2006-07 will be captains Sarah Steive and All-Conference selection Angie Johnson.

2006-07 MIAC Preseason Women's Hockey Coach's Poll
(First Place Votes in Parentheses)
1. Gustavus (8)
2. St. Thomas (2)
3. St. Olaf
4. Saint Mary's
5. Bethel
6. Augsburg
7. Concordia
8. Hamline
9. Saint Benedict
10. St. Catherine

Augsburg College
Head Coach:	Jill Pohtilla (12th season)
2005-06 Record:	8-14-3 overall, 7-8-3 MIAC (6th)
Key Returners:	Tiffany Magnuson (F, So., Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) All-MIAC and All-MIAC Rookie teams in 2005-06; team's leader in scoring (21G-6A--27P) Caryn Quist (F, So., St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) Second on team in scoring in 2005-06 (5G-10A--15P); team's leader in assists Katie Medd (F, Jr., Mankato, Minn./East) Sixth on team in scoring in 2005-06 (7G-1A--8P); 8G-3A--11P in career Jackie Keller (D, Jr., Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City West) 2G-5A--7P in 2005-06; 3G-8A--11P in career Christina Waller (D, So., Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) 1G-6A--7P in 2005-06
Season Preview:	There's no doubt that the Augsburg College women's hockey team will be young this year. In fact, head coach Jill Pohtilla says that it's the youngest team she's led in her 12 seasons as the Auggies' mentor. Fifteen of the 18 players on this year's Auggie roster are underclassmen, and this season's club features no seniors and just three juniors. But Pohtilla has confidence in this team's learning curve as the season progresses, and with strong leadership from eight returning letterwinners, the goals of reaching the five-team Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason playoffs remain alive. "It's the youngest roster I've ever had, but I'm excited to work with them," said Pohtilla, who has led the Auggies in every season of the team's existence. "They're very receptive to what we're throwing at them. "They're very responsive to coaching. Our returning players have a lot of pressure on them, but it's pressure that they are capable of handling. I'm very proud of the way they've prepared themselves for the season." Augsburg is coming off a 8-14-3 overall record and 7-8-3 finish in MIAC play last season, just one win away from reaching the league's postseason playoffs. A key to the Auggies' season may be the continued development of sophomore forward Tiffany Magnuson (So., Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy HS), who was one of the top rookies in NCAA Division III women's hockey last season. An All-MIAC and MIAC All-Rookie Team honoree last season, Magnuson scored 21 of Augsburg's 58 goals, leading the conference in goals in both overall (21) and conference-only (19) play. Her 21 goals were second-best among Division III rookies nationally. Another key forward will be Caryn Quist (So., St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS), who was second on the team in scoring last year with five goals and a team-high 10 assists. Katie Medd (Jr., Mankato, Minn./East HS) will also be counted on for a scoring punch, after she contributed seven goals last season. Samantha Farrell (So., St. Paul, Minn./Tartan HS) and Katie Johnson (Jr., Montrose, Minn./Wayzata HS) also return to the forward position. Farrell had two goals and two assists last year, while Johnson added four assists. Team co-captains Jackie Keller (So., Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City West HS) and Christina Waller (So., Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) return to lead the Auggie defense, along with fellow returner Emily Merhar (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.). Keller scored two goals and had five assists last year, while Waller contributed a goal and six assists. Merhar had to battle a shoulder injury that limited her production last season, but has returned healthy this year, Pohtilla said. The goalie position will be decided between two newcomers -- Toni Menth (Fr., Buffalo, Minn.) and Jessie Rombough (Fr., Dale, Wis./New London HS). Menth was a two-time all-conference selection and honorable-mention all-state selection in her high school career, as an all-state tournament team member for Buffalo in her junior year. Rombough played on teams that earned a state title and state runner-up finish in Wisconsin, while also playing on a state all-star team in 2006. Complete Augsburg preview at: http://www.augsburg.edu/athletics/whockey/0607preview.html

Bethel University
Head Coach:	Charlie Burggraf (1st season)
2005-06 Record:	11-10-3 overall, 10-7-1 MIAC (3rd)
Key Returners:	Beth Spurrier (So., G, Plymouth, Minn.) All-MIAC, MIAC All-Rookie Team Bethany Murphy (So., FW, Grand Rapids, Minn.) Honorable Mention All-MIAC Sandra Felten (So., FW, Cashton, Wis.) Honorable Mention All-MIAC Natalie Gartner (Jr., D, Richmond Hill, Ontario) Amy Stroman (Sr., D, Elk River, Minn.) Jean-Marie Paul (Sr., D, Minnetonka, Minn.)
Season Preview:	The 2006-07 Bethel women’s hockey season brings the promise of more exciting MIAC hockey as the league continues to become more competitive. Last year is a testament to that fact as the Royals capped off their best season in the seven-year history of the program. The team claimed its first winning season with an 11-10-3 overall record and a 10-7-1 record in the MIAC while earning a spot in the MIAC playoffs. With the loss of two all-conference players Heidi Govednik and Lisa Kinney who led the team in scoring, Bethel will look to a strong young core led by good senior leadership. Seniors this year consist of two lone blue-liners: Captains Amy Stroman and Jean-Marie Paul bring experience to Bethel’s defensive core. Both are strong and smart defensive-minded players who helped the team to the third best scoring defense in the MIAC a year ago. The junior class is made up of an eight player cast including another pair of strong defensemen in Sarah Worch and Natalie Gartner. In many respects the juniors are the heart of the team and include a diverse group of athletes: Every position is represented (five forwards, two defensemen and a goalie), and hail from Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, and Canada. Together, they are a hard working group that provides the ‘cross-weave’ in the fabric of the team. Most notably, the Royals return junior Captain, Amy Beitzel who as a hard working forward will once again look to be a significant offensive threat. Last season, Beitzel finished fifth on the team in scoring with seven goals and seven assists. Bethel also returns junior forwards Hannah Carlson and Caitlyn Belcher who will add additional scoring punch. The sophomore class provides the thrust to the Royals offensive engine. Quick with excellent playmaking ability, forwards Bethany Murphy, Sandra Felten, Anna Baumgarten and Miriam Paas will all be a headache to the opposition’s defense as they are relentless fore-checkers. Last season Murphy led all Bethel freshmen with 21 points on the season including nine goals and 12 assists. Third on the team in scoring, Murphy garnered MIAC Player of the Week honors and earned All-MIAC honorable mention honors. Felten was also a big contributor to last years playoff team netting 18 points in 24 games as a freshman. Her nine goals and nine assists placed her fourth on the team and also earned her All-MIAC honorable mention honors. The one exception to this all forward sophomore class is standout goaltender Beth Spurrier. Spurrier’s style is both quick and disciplined. Beth is a fierce competitor and has excellent athleticism. Last season Spurrier earned MIAC All-Rookie team honors as well as 1st team All-MIAC honors as she ranked in the top four of the MIAC and top 14 nationally in all major goalie statistics. She carried a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage, while also setting a Royal single-season record with six shutouts. The incoming freshman class is headed by standout defenseman Mary Foster, of St. Paul, Minn. Foster is a fast skating, skilled puck handler who will contribute immediately this year. Other incoming freshman include defenseman Erin Waters of Detroit Lakes, Minn., Alyssum Roe, a strong forward from Kenny Lake, Alaska and forward Leah Peterson from Roberts, Wisconsin. Complete Bethel preview at: http://cas.bethel.edu/athletics/W_Hockey.html/2007/preview.htm

Concordia College
Head Coach:	Ace Gregg (1st season)
2005-06 Record:	6-14-3 overall, 6-10-2 MIAC (7th)
Key Returners:	Ceara Bergsrud (Jr., D, Devils, Lake, N.D.) 2005-06 MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention; second on the team in scoring in 2005-06 Alyssa Dahl (So., F, Willmar, Minn.) Led the team in scoring in 2005-06 Hannah Impola (Sr., F, Brainerd, Minn.) Tied for third on the team in scoring in 2005-06; tied for 13th in the MIAC in game-winning goals Mandi Samuelson (So., F, Willmar, Minn.) Led the team in assists in 2005-06
Season Preview:	The 2006-07 season will usher in another new era for the Cobber women’s hockey program. Concordia will have their fourth head coach in program history behind the bench when they take the ice on Nov. 10 for their season-opener at Finlandia (Mich.). Ace Gregg makes the jump from assistant coach the past two seasons to the man in charge. He comes to Concordia after a successful stint as the head girls’ coach at Fargo South High School. Gregg will be able to build his first year’s team from the blue line forward. The Cobbers return all four of their top defenseman from last season and should be able to consistently shut down the opposing team’s scoring threat. Junior captain Ceara Bergsrud (Devils Lake, N.D) will lead the Cobber blueliners this year. Bergsrud was named to the MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention Team last year and finished second on the team in scoring with five goals and four assists. She also led the team in shots in conference games and overall games. Joining Bergsrud on defense will be seniors Marya Losinski (Cold Spring, Minn./St. John’s Prep School) and Joanna Berringer (Kenora, Ontario/Beaver Brae HS) and sophomore Britt Vander Kooy (Redlands, Calif.). Up front Gregg will need to get scoring punch from a team that finished ninth in the league in scoring and seventh in the conference in power play percentage. The top returning scorer is sophomore Alyssa Dahl (Willmar, Minn.). Dahl was the only Cobber player last season to finish in double digits in points. She had seven goals and three assists for 10 points in 2005-06 and will be looking to add to that total in her second season. Other players that will make an impact on offense will be seniors Hannah Impola (Brainerd, Minn.), Paige Stone (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./San Dimas HS) and Brandie Dunn (Plano, Texas). All three have been multiple-year starters and all have come up with big goals in the past three seasons. Impola was tied for third on the team in scoring last year and was also tied for 13th in the MIAC in game-winning goals. Sophmore Mandi Samuelson (Willmar, Minn.) has the potential to be a top-line scorer for the Cobbers. She led the team in assists last season after only playing in half the games. The biggest question mark for Gregg in 2006-07 will be in goal where he will have to replace MIAC All-Conference netminder Jenna Johnson. Johnson was the starting goalie for the past three seasons and always gave the Cobbers a chance to pull off the victory. The only returning goalie in camp is sophomore Amber Malcolm (North Vancouver, B.C./Athol Murray’s HS). Malcolm transferred in to Concordia after the Christmas break last season and saw limited action, appearing in only two games. She will be joined by freshman Maddie Haroldson (Sartell, Minn.) as the team’s last line of defense. Haroldson was a five-time all-conference player at Sartell High School and was named the St. Cloud Times Player of the Year in 2005-06. After the Cobbers open the season in Michigan, they will face a stiff test as they open conference play with two-time defending league champion, and last year’s NCAA Final Four participant, Gustavus in St. Peter, Minn. Concordia will have to wait until the middle of January before playing their home opener. The Cobbers will host on Jan. 19 to open play at the Moorhead Sports Center. Complete Concordia preview at: http://www.cord.edu/dept/sports/winter/wh/0607preview.php

Gustavus Adolphus College
Head Coach:	Mike Carroll (8th season)
2005-06 Record:	22-5-2 overall, 17-0-1 MIAC (1st)
Key Returners:	Andrea Peterson (Sr., D, Vadnais Heights, Minn.) ACHA First Team All-America, MIAC Player of the Year, All-MIAC (Three-times each), 18g, 30a, 48pts in 2005-06. Molly Doyle (Jr., F, Eagan, Minn. ) 2005-06 ACHA First Team All-America, Two-time All-MIAC, 21g, 15a, 36pts in 2005-06. Kelly Crandall (Sr., F, Plymouth, Minn.) Two-time All-MIAC, 14g, 33a, 47pts in 2005-06. Margaret Dorer (Jr., D, St. Paul, Minn.) 2005-06 All-MIAC, 10g, 28a, 38pts in 2005-06. Mari Gunderson (So., F, Shoreview, Minn. ) 2005-06 All-MIAC, 2005-06 MIAC All-Rookie Team, 14g, 11a, 25pts in 2005-06. Kitty Hurley (Sr., G, Minnetonka, Minn.) 12-5-2, 292 Saves, .921 Save %, 1.31 GAA in 2005-06
Season Preview:	Gustavus welcomes back 16 letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished 22-5-2 overall and fourth at the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championships last spring. A group of seven talented newcomers look to add to a team already loaded with depth and experience. That depth and experience will be extremely helpful as the Gusties, who enter the season ranked third in the USCHO.com Division III Preseason Women’s Poll, take on a rigorous Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule. Andrea Peterson, a three-time All-American and MIAC Player of the Year, will once again don the captain’s “C” this season from her spot on the blue line. Peterson is the Gustavus’ career scoring leader with 148 points on 67 goals and 81 assists and is also the MIAC’s active scoring leader. She needs only seven points this season to move from seventh place to second place. Peterson will be paired with fellow captain Laura Vannelli on the blue line. Vannelli switches to defender after accumulating 14 points on 10 goals and 4 assists as a forward last season. “She and Andrea compliment each other. Vannelli is more of a defensive-minded defender, while Andrea is a two-way player,” noted Carroll. Gustavus’ third captain, Margaret Dorer, a 2005-06 All-MIAC selection, will also be found patrolling the blue line, along with sophomores Liz Haakenson and Danny Blacker. Dorer finished third on the team with 37 points (10g, 27a) last season. All-MIAC performers Molly Doyle, Kelly Crandall, and Mari Gunderson return up front. Doyle, an All-America selection last season, scored a team-high 21 goals, but will be sidelined for part of the season after having offseason knee surgery. Crandall, a three-time letterwinner and two-time All-MIAC selection, enters the season with 99 career points (36g, 63a). Gunderson was named to the MIAC All-Rookie Team with 24 points (13g, 11a). Also returning to patrol the offensive zone for the Gustavus are junior Stefanie Ubl and sophomores Jenny Pusch and Jessie Doig. Carroll believes that the Gusties are deeper at forward than in the past, which he noted was very encouraging. The Gusties have pair of goalies with significant collegiate game experience. Senior Kitty Hurley will see most of the time between the pipes for Gustavus after posting a 12-5-2 record with 292 saves, a 1.31 goals against average and a .921 save percentage in 2005-06. Hurley’s goals against average (GAA) ranked third in the nation, while her save percentage ranked 11th. Sophomore Amanda Rosequist played in 10 games, posting an 8-0-0 record (6-0-0 in MIAC play) with 85 saves and a 1.63 GAA. The Gusties open their season by facing a pair of last spring’s NCAA Tournament teams – UW-Stevens Point (Nov. 11 at Stevens Point) and UW-Superior (Nov. 14 at St. Peter). Gustavus opens MIAC play Nov. 17-18 when they host Concordia. Complete Gustavus preview at: http://www.gustavus.edu/athletics/news/2562

Hamline University
Head Coach:	Garnet Asmundson (4th season)
2005-06 Record:	4-16-5 overall, 3-12-3 MIAC (9th)
Key Returners:	Marie Gross (Jr., D, West St. Paul, Minn./Sibley) Named All-MIAC first team last season. Fourth on the team with six goals and six assists for 12 points. Brianna Miller (So., F, Woodbury, Minn.) Led the Pipers in scoring with seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 2005-06. Kate Raasch (So., F, St. Paul, Minn./Sibley) Second on the team in scoring (17 points) in 2005-06. Led the team with 12 goals, including four power-play. Emily Dusold (Jr., F, Shoreview, Minn./Irondale) Third on the team with five goals and nine assists for 14 points last season.
Season Preview:	Twenty-four players, nine states, one goal – to continue the building process of the Hamline women’s hockey program under fourth-year head coach Garnet Asmundson. Asmundson has gone national with his search for quality hockey players with athletes from as far as Alaska, Oregon, and Texas. So far, no one can argue with the results as Asmundson’s teams have posted school records for conference points in each of the last two seasons. This year, Asmundson believes the team can make an even bigger jump up the MIAC ladder. “My expectations are to make another positive step in the building of this program,” Asmundson said of his squad that finished 4-16-5, 3-12-3 in the MIAC. “We’ve improved in each of the past three seasons, and I look for that to continue.” Asmundson has plenty of reasons to be optimistic as the Pipers return seven of their top eight scorers from a season ago. Sophomore forwards Brianna Miller (Woodbury, Minn.) and Kate Raasch (St. Paul, Minn.) finished 1-2 in scoring as first-years. Miller posted the second-highest point scoring total in season history in 2005-06 with seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points. Raasch had the third-highest total overall with 12 goals and five assists. She also led the Pipers in power-play goals (four) and short-handed goals (two). On defense, Hamline will lean on returning All-MIAC first-team selection Marie Gross (West St. Paul, Minn.). The junior was fourth on the team in scoring last season with six goals, three on the power play, and six assists for 12 points. She also was a mainstay on the defensive end of the rink. Complete Hamline preview at: http://www.hamline.edu/hamline_info/athletics/womens_hockey/0607/outlook.html

College of Saint Benedict
Head Coach:	Patrick Michaud (1st season)
2005-06 Record:	4-16-3 overall, 4-11-3 MIAC (8th)
Key Returners:	Erin Baldwin (Sr., F, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center) Stephanie Gassert (Sr., D, Cloquet, Minn) Stephanie Kendrick (So., F/D, Osceola, Wis.) Patty King (So., F, St. Paul, Minn./Cretin Derham Hall) Ashley Davenport (Jr., F, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley)
Season Preview:	The Blazer ice hockey team, who finished 4-16-3 overall last season, will be seeking improvement as they look ahead and prepare to take the ice for their 2006-2007 campaign. In order for this improvement to occur the team has planned to achieve their goals by playing hockey the “Blazer way”, which they feel is the one-way ticket to success this winter. When the team opens their schedule, at home, against UW-Superior on Friday, Nov. 3 it will mark the 10th anniversary of the CSB ice hockey program which began in 1997. The College of Saint Benedict was the first women’s college to offer intercollegiate ice hockey as a varsity sport and accumulated an impressive 11-8-2 record in their inaugural season. This year, there is much excitement and new attitudes around the team. The Blazers welcome new head coach, Pat Michaud to the bench this season who replaces Neil Andruschak and becomes the fifth coach in program history. Michaud has wasted no time in preparing his skaters for the upcoming season. Joining Michaud on the coaching staff are assistants Ann Mortenson and Missie Meemken. Saint Benedict’s roster will be without Lisa Bush, who was the 2005-2006 Shelia Brown Award recipient, yet still features a strong group of returners who know how to lead on the ice. Seniors returners will be led by captain, Stephanie Gassert who collected seven points off of seven assists last season and has provided the Blazers with excellent defensive play throughout her career. Senior forward Erin Baldwin, who has 20 goals, 17 assists in 60 games played over the past three seasons will be leading the offensive attack along with fellow senior Sarah Wilson who has 31 career points skating for the Blazers. The junior class is also full of experienced, talented players who are primed to propel CSB to the top this season. Juniors Ashley Davenport, Jackie Hoeft and Amanda Trusty are coming off impressive years in which they gained new skills and improved their offensive output. Davenport, who played her first full season for Saint Benedict last winter after being sidelined by injury her first-year, made great strides on the ice by scoring five goals and dishing out eight assists for a total of 13 points. Hoeft, one of the Blazers strongest skaters, has steadily improved her game and pitched in five goals and four assists for CSB last season. Trusty had a breakout, career season last winter in which she increased her offensive output, got her teammates involved and showed that she can convert big shots into big goals. With six goals and five assists for a point total of 11, Trusty’s development into one of CSB’s top players appears to be complete. Saint Benedict’s sophomores all are coming off outstanding first years where they all learned what it takes to play in the heavily competitive collegiate ranks. Stephanie Kendrick, Patty King and Andrea Selby all had double-digit point totals for the Blazers last winter and are primed to make the transition from outstanding first-years to sensational sophomores. Sophomore Abby Milton also added nine points to the Blazer’s offensive output last winter and showed signs of being a consistent goal scoring threat on opposing defenses with a three-game goal scoring streak. Sophomore goaltender, Sarah Zweber also returns to play in between the pipes for Saint Benedict this winter and will be looking to improve on her 2-7-1 record from last season. For Saint Benedict, the objective is simple: Play the game “One way, the Blazer way” and through that philosophy success, improvement and determination will follow.

College of St. Catherine
Head Coach:	Brad Marshall (2nd season)
2005-06 Record:	1-21-1 overall, 1-16-1 MIAC (10th)
Key Returners:	Sarah Steive (So., Maple Plain, Minn. / Orono) Angie Johnson (Jr., Wadena, Minn. / Wadena Deer Creek)
Season Preview:	The College of St. Catherine enters the 2006-2007 with 12 first year players. The new players join returning captains Sarah Steive and All-Conference selection Angie Johnson. The Wildcats will look to improve on their overall goals against from a year ago by adding transfers Katie Allen and Kaytlyn Mount to their blue line. “Both are skilled defensemen who are strong on their skates and can join the rush up ice as well. They bring a certain presence to the ice which we haven’t had for some time here,” stated Wildcat head coach Brad Marshall. They join first year goalies Robyn Kasper and Jackie Weiden. Also returning for the Wildcats is goalie Jessi McGehee, defensemen Jordan Nielsen and Kate Swanson and forwards Angela Johnson and Tera Burley. If the Cats’ can find some scoring beyond Johnson, they could be more than a one game threat. “We need to show up every game this year. We can’t just play good for two periods, we have to play two solid games in a row. We have more depth this year and look to compete every game,” Added Marshall. Coach Marshall’s roster includes only one senior, that being Johnson. “We are once again a young team. We have 15 freshmen and sophomores on the team, so we’re hoping that this team brings an everyday work ethic that will payoff in late February.” “We have a good group of student-athletes here. It’s reassuring to know that we have good people on this team. We added some punch to key positions with the hope that this group will stick together and work through whatever arises during the year. We’re excited about the new class, but remain focused on what the team needs to improve on. Having a dozen new faces can be refreshing, but it also means this is a project that will take some time to turn around. This group of student-athletes is dedicated to each other and our system of play. They represent The College of St. Catherine very well both on and off the ice, as we will continue to lead and influence in both the community and the classroom,” stated Marshall. Coach Marshall will continue the tradition of St. Catherine hockey and guide his players to be leaders, “We will be the very best example of the complete Division III student-athlete.” As the season unfolds, the coaching staff and players will continue to show that hard work pays off. Marshall states, “We will be totally team orientated in our approach. In each game of hockey, if the goals of the group are to be reached, it will occur through the dedication and efforts of many individuals. Nothing can be accomplished alone in hockey.”

Saint Mary's University
Head Coach:	Terry Mannor (2nd season)
2005-06 Record:	11-12-3 overall, 8-7-3 MIAC (5th)
Key Returners:	Melissa Mondo (Sr., F., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) First Team All-MIAC in 2005-06 and 2003-04, honorable-mention All-MIAC in 2004-05; 26 GP, 11 G, 10 A, 21 Pts. Nikki Jung (Sr., G, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) Honorable-mention All-MIAC in 2005-06, First-Team All-MIAC in 2004-05; 18 GP, 3.00 GAA, .909 save %, 7-8-3 record Laura Mueller (Sr., F, St. Paul, Minn.) Honorable-mention All-MIAC in 2005-06; 24 GP, 7 G, 11 A, 18 Pts. Amy Madden (Sr., F, East Grand Rapids, Mich.) 26 GP, 8 G, 9 A, 17 Pts Val Rodriguez (Sr., D, Woodbury, Minn.) Honorable-mention All-MIAC in 2005-06; 26 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 Pts. Amanda Gage (Sr., G, Lino Lakes, Minn.) 9 GP, 2.38 GAA, .922 save %, 4-3-0
Season Preview:	They had a new coach, but it was the same old story for the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team a year ago, as the Cardinals made their sixth straight appearance in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs. And second-year coach Terry Mannor is looking for his Cardinals to make it a perfect 7-for-7 in 2006-07. "Our goal is to get back to the conference playoffs," said Mannor, whose team placed fifth in the MIAC regular-season a year ago with an 8-7-3 mark, then were ousted in the opening round of the playoffs by St. Olaf. "And if we are going to accomplish that goal, our upperclassmen are going to have to continue to lead by example, and our young players are going to have to make the adjustments to the collegiate game. "The MIAC keeps getting tougher and tougher every year, and this year will be no different," Mannor said. "I don't know how things will unfold, but I do know one thing, it should be an exciting season." Complete SMU women's hockey preview: http://sports.smumn.edu/w_hockey/2006/newsletter/whpreview.html

St. Olaf College
Head Coach:	John Bazzachini (2nd season)
2005-06 Record:	13-14-0 overall, 10-8-0 MIAC (4th)
Key Returners:	Susannah Brokl (Sr., F, Minneapolis/Breck) Lindsey Boeser (Jr., F, Lakeville, Minn.) Janae Fabini (Jr., F, Duluth, Minn./Warroad) Katie Bennett (Jr., F, Edina, Minn.) Laura Wild (Jr., F, Mendota Heights, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall)
Season Preview:	The St. Olaf women's hockey team has plenty to look forward this winter. For one, St. Olaf erased the interim title from John Bazzachini's title when they named the Saint John's alum head coach last spring. Bazzachini led St. Olaf to the MIAC semifinals in an interim capacity last year. This year, he has a sensational senior and a set of junior scorers back in the lineup in hopes of making a return trip to the postseason. Two-time All-MIAC senior Susannah Brokl (Minneapolis/Breck) leads the charge. Brokl's 39 points last winter, on 19 goals and 20 assists, set a single-season school record. Since transferring from Division I Northeastern after 2003-04, Brokl has 70 points. But Brokl isn't the only one Bazzachini and the Oles can lean on in 06-07. Junior forward Lindsey Boeser (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) has 70 points the last two seasons as well. In her All-MIAC sophomore campaign Boeser had a school record 25 assists. Her 20 in conference play ranked sixth in the league. Janae Fabini had a 20-point and Katie Bennett a breakout campaign last year. Bennett's 17 goals tied Fabini's total from 05-06 as the third-best in the eight-year history of women's hockey at St. Olaf. Another junior, forward Laura Wild is also back this season. Wild had a goal and six assists last year. In her first year she had four goals and nine assists. A group of first years have been added to the mix including forwards Kari and Kim McClintick (Chaska, Minn.) and Kayla Hill (White Bear Lake, Minn.). The big question for the Oles 2006-07 season will be in the defensive zone where they'll have to replace starters Lindsay Weier and Melissa Mueller, who had a combined 200 games of experience. Weier, a three-time All-MIAC honoree, had four power play goals and 21 points last winter. The Oles will look to first year defenders Taylor David (White Bear Lake, Minn.) and Anna Messerly (Vadnais Heights, Minn./Mounds View) to pad the losses. In goal, sophomore Shannon Herrick returns after playing in 26 of the St. Olaf's 27 contests last year. First year Sarah Mills (Scarborough, Maine.) could see time as well. St. Olaf opens on Nov. 4 with a home game against UW-Stevens Point. MIAC play begins on Nov. 17 with a home-and-home series with perennial power St. Thomas. Complete St. Olaf preview at: http://fusion.stolaf.edu/athletics//index.cfm?fuseaction=NewsDetails&id=1052

University of St. Thomas
Head Coach:	Kevin Gorg (9th season)
2005-06 Record:	21-5-1 overall, 15-2-1 MIAC (2nd)
Key Returners:	Katie Jetland (Sr., GK, Excelsior, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret) Captain, Two-time All-MIAC; 3-year career: 32-7, 1.54 GAA, .934 save% Maggie Toft (Sr., D, Fargo, N.D./South) Captain, Two-time All-MIAC; 3-year career: 7g-24a/31 points Ashley Reinhardt (Jr., F, Eagan, Minn.) 2-year career: 29g-24a/53 points Jackie Carroll (So., F, St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) All-MIAC: 2005-06: 21g-19a/40 points Allison Turgeon (Sr., F, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) 3-year career: 20g-41a/61 points Courtney Sekevitch (Jr., F, Mendota Heights, Minn./Hill-Murray) 12g-24a/36 points in 41 career games
Season Preview:	Ninth-year head coach Kevin Gorg has built the Tommie women's hockey program into a Division III power. Over the last four years, St. Thomas has become a consistent top-10 nationally-ranked team. The Toms' 66-9-5 record in MIAC play in that span includes seven one-goal losses. The Tommies reached the conference playoff finals all four years with one title and three one-goal losses to Gustavus (two in overtime). The 2006-07 Tommie team, ranked eighth in the preseason Division III poll, will have a new look, with 13 freshman and one transfer on its 25-player roster. Gone are nine graduated seniors, including All-American goalie Becky Kilpatrick (Career: 39-12-6, .926 save% and 1.73 GAA); All-American forward Tanaya Reitz (144 career points); four-time All-MIAC forward Maureen Hardwick (141 career points); and All-MIAC forward Melanie Drake (97 career points). Reitz and Hardwick finished in the top 10 in conference career scoring. Reitz, a four-time first-team All-MIAC honoree, scored a point in each of her last 16 games last season and helped the 21-5-1 Tommies to a No. 8 national ranking. She set a school season scoring record with 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) and led Division III in ppg. Gorg feels he has All-America-caliber players with his senior captains -- goalie Katie Jetland and defenseman Maggie Toft. Both are two-time All-MIAC honorees. On her three-year career, Jetland is 32-7 in net with a 1.54 GAA and a .934 save percentage. In 81 career games, Toft has 31 points and does everything that doesn't show up on the scoresheet. Other proven players include senior forward Allison Turgeon (61 career points); junior forwards Ashley Reinhardt (53 career points) and Courtney Sekevitch (36 points in 41 games); and sophomore forward Jackie Carroll (40 points in 2005-06). Newcomers on defense include sophomore transfer Alicia Behr, who played in all 23 games and had five points for St. Benedict, and freshmen Kristine Beese of Coon Rapids, Jenny Schnaible of Burnsville, and Jamie Hollway of Osseo. "This is the best set of defensemen we've ever had, and we have one of the top goaltenders in the country," Gorg said. "The question is can we develop enough goal scorers. Jackie Carroll is back after a dynamic freshman season, and we're moving Allison Turgeon back to her natural position at forward. "Even though we graduated all that offense, I think we will be in every game. We just might see some 2-1 and 3-2 games, especially early in the season." In their first three seasons on home ice at Saint Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights, the Tommie women are 30-5-2. The Tommies open the season at home Nov. 3-4 with games vs. nationally-ranked UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire. Complete St. Thomas preview at: http://www.stthomas.edu/tommies/shared/shownews.cfm?ArticleID=4540