The Saint Mary's University women's hockey team kicks off its 2010-2011 on the road this weekend, traveling to Fond du Lac, Wis., for a 7 p.m. nonconference contest against Marian on Friday, before heading to De Pere, Wis., for a 5 p.m. showdown against St. Norbert on Saturday.

The Matchups:
Friday, October 29, 2010:
Saint Mary's Cardinals (12-12-2 Overall in 2009-10) vs. Marian Sabres (2-21-0 Overall in 2009-10)

Saturday, October 30, 2010:
Saint Mary's vs. St. Norbert Green Knights (0-0-0 Overall in 2009-10)

GameDay Live On The Web:
Coach Mannor Preview

Last Action:
This weekend's games are the season openers for SMU, Marian and St. Norbert. In fact, this weekend's contests — Friday against Bethel and Saturday against Saint Mary's — are the first-ever for the Green Knights.

Last Meeting:
Friday's game at Marian and Saturday's contest at St. Norbert mark the first-ever meetings between the women's hockey programs.

Saint Mary's Cardinals News and Notes:
The Cardinals enter the season with three All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selections returning in Dy-anna Stewart (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Stevie Fiek (Rochester, Minn.) and Kaye Collier (Hibbing, Minn.). … The Cardinals earned their ninth MIAC Playoff berth last season, finishing fourth in the conference standings. Ingrid Klockars (Wheaton, Ill.) scored SMU's lone goal as the Cardinals fell to St. Olaf in their tournament-opener, 3-1, at the SMU Ice Arena. … Six of the Cardinals' last seven games last season were decided by one goal or less. All told, SMU played 18 games decided by one goal or less. … Fiek and Nicole Olson (New Brighton, Minn.) shared the team lead in points (21), while Olson led the team in goals (12) and Fiek boasted a team-best 12 assists. … Olson scored her team-leading 11th and 12th goals of the season vs. Saint Benedict on Feb. 12. Olson scored two or more goals three times last season — including a career-best five-goal outburst against Marian on Jan. 9. … Olson's 12 goals were the most scored by a Cardinal since the 2006-07 season, when Melissa Mondo led the team with 15 goals. … Fiek's team-leading 12 assists, meanwhile, were the most in a season since Laura Mueller led the team with 13 during the 2006-07 season. … Erin Stenseth (Eau Claire, Wis.) led the team with three game-winning goals, including SMU's 1-0 win over St. Olaf on Feb. 27 that clinched the Cardinals' playoff berth. … SMU boasted four players with 10 or more points — Fiek (21), Olson (21), Katie Cachey (15) and Stenseth (12). … Collier started 24 of the team's 26 games in goal, compiling a 1.76 goals-against-average and a .936 save percentage. … Collier's .936 save percentage ranked second all-time in SMU history, while her five shutouts were tied for third. … Collier, who logged the most minutes among MIAC goalies in conference play last season (18 games, 1070:16), finished fourth in the conference in goals-against-average (1.74) and save percentage (.937). … Collier's .936 overall save percentage was the ninth-best in NCAA?Division III this season. … The Cardinals closed out the season as the least penalized team in all of NCAA?Division III (190 penalty minutes, 9.3 PPG). … The Cardinals scored first in 15 of their 26 games, going 11-3-1 in those 15 games. On the flip side, SMU's win over Saint Benedict on Jan. 12 was the only time this season SMU won when its opponent scored first (1-7-1).

Marian Sabres News and Notes:
The Sabres are their second year as a varsity collegiate program, struggling to a 2-21-0 mark in their inaugural season a year ago. … Marian returns 12 letter-winners from a year ago, while 21 of the 24 players on this year's squad are freshmen or sophomores. … The Sabres return their top two goalies — Melissa Calder and Kaytlin Ruzicka — from a year ago. Calder compiled a 4.54 goals-against-average and a .900 save percentage in 19 games, while Ruzicka appeared in 13 games, posting a 5.74 GAA and an .879 save percentage. … Marian returns 85 percent of its offense from a season ago. … Amy Knutson is back after leading the Marian in goals (5) and points (6) last season. Tara Scott chipped in four goals, while Aly Lund and Rachel Mullendore each netted three goals. … Stephanie Desmueules and Nicole Drews shared the team lead in assists with four. … Marian scored first in both of its wins, while going 0-20-0 when its opponent scored the game's first goal.

St. Norbert Green Knights News and Notes:
The Green Knights' 24-person roster — comprised entirely of freshmen — is a diverse one, featuring skaters from five different countries, including 10 different states and two Canadian provinces. Fifteen members are from the United States, six are from Canada and there is one each from Sweden, Finland and Denmark. … Six SNC forwards participated in USA Hockey's National Development Program and one played in the Women's World Division II Hockey Championships. … Green Knights' defenseman Emma Agen has been selected to play with the Swedish National Team in the 4 Nations Cup held in November in Newfoundland. … Katie Aluia and Kaley Gibson are scheduled to split time in St. Norbert's inaugural game on Friday against Bethel.