vs.
Saint Mary's Cardinals   0-1-0 Overall		UW-Eau Claire Blugolds   2-0-0 Overall

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Last Action: UW-Eau Claire jumped out to a 3-0 lead in handing the Cardinals a 3-1 nonconference setback in SMU's season opener last Saturday in Eau Claire, Wis.

A Year Ago: UW-Eau Claire picked up a pair of nonconference wins against the Cardinals last season. The Blugolds took advantage of three third-period SMU penalties — scoring on all three — as UW-Eau Claire spoiled the Cardinals' season opener with a 4-0 victory on Nov. 10. UW-EC then completed the sweep, erupting for three first-period goals, then held off a late SMU rally to beat the Cardinals 3-1.

All-Time Series Record: UW-Eau Claire has won the last six meetings between the two teams, and currently holds an 9-6-0 record all-time against the Cardinals.

Cardinal Notes: The Cardinals have now lost six straight vs. UW-Eau Claire, dating back to a 5-1 SMU win on Nov. 5, 2005. … Last Saturday's loss to UW-Eau Claire extended SMU's winless streak to seven straight — 0-1 this season and 0-5-1 to end 2007-08). … SMU is now 0-2-1 in its last three season openers. … Alex Braun (Darwin, Minn.) scored her first collegiate goal to account for SMU's lone goal vs. the Blugolds. … Emily Friedl (La Crescent, Minn.) made 19 saves in goal vs. UW-Eau Claire. … SMU actually held a 26-22 advantage in shots on goal vs. the Blugolds, but was outscored 3-1. … SMU has now allowed thereof more goals in 18 of its last 24 games — including the Cardinals' last 10 straight. On the flip side, the Cardinals have now scored two goals or less in 15 of their last 24 games. … The Cardinals — 0-1 on the road this year — won just two of 12 road games last season (2-8-2). … The Cardinals ended the season winless when their opponent scored first (0-11-2). … The Cardinals, who scored just nine power play goals a year ago, were 1-for-6 on the power play vs. UW-Eau Claire last Saturday.

Blugold Notes: The Blugolds enter tonight's game riding a season-opening two-game winning streak — with both wins by 3-1 counts. … UW-Eau Claire, coming off a 12-14-0 overall record a year ago — including a 9-9-0 mark in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association — has been picked to finish fourth in the NCHA this season, according to the NCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll. … Five different players have accounted for UW-Eau Claire's six goals, with Beth Dittrich leading the way with two goals. … Dittrich shares the teams' points lead (3) with Christine Dickinson and Toni Simones. …  The Blugolds return 12 letterwinners off last year's team, including First-Team All-NCHA selection Michelle Stohr and honorable-mention All-NCHA pick Kristen Faber. … This year's 13-player UW-EC squad includes just two seniors and two juniors. … UW-Eau Claire returns its top eight scorers — led by Faber (13 goals, 9 assists, 22 points) — with all eight recording eight or more points a year ago. … The Blugolds scored 59 goals a year ago, 54 of which were scored by this year's returners. … Danika Porter appeared in 15 of the Blugolds' 26 games in goal as a freshman a year ago, posting a 1.86 goals-against-average and a .910 save percentage.