WINONA, Minn. – The Cardinal women's hockey team will set the stage for the 2024-25 season Friday, October 26^th traveling to take on St. Norbert College for an exhibition match up. The team will be led by head coach Heath Isaacson in his first season with Saint Mary's.
 
Before the season has officially begun, the Cardinals earned national recognition to be ranked 15^th in the country in the preseason polls, per USCHO.com.
 
Last season, the team started the season winning the first five games before falling to UW-River Falls, who went on to win the DIII National Title. The Cardinals are looking to build off one of the best seasons recorded going 19-6-2 overall and 12-4-2 in conference and reached the MIAC Playoff title game for the first time since 2001-02, falling to defending national champion Gustavus 2-1.
 
The Cardinals are to host the first official game of the season on Friday, November 1^st at 2 p.m. taking on Concordia University of Wisconsin (CUW) and turning around again to play CUW for the Cardinals annual Ice Breaker on Saturday, November 2^nd at noon.
 
The team will take on multiple nationally ranked teams this season facing eighth ranked UW-Eau Claire Blue Devils twice, second ranked Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus College January 17^th and 18^th, and the defending national champs and top ranked UW-River Falls at home February 4^th at 7 p.m.
 
The team will compete in the Dubuque Thanksgiving Tournament taking on Lake Forest college on November 29^th and play again on the 30ths, opponent yet to be decided.

After their return, MIAC play is in full swing as the Cardinals will play every Friday and Saturday, besides the UW-River Falls cross over, for the remainder of the season. The last chance to catch the Cardinals in action before tournament play is February 22^nd at home versus Augsburg at 3 p.m. for their senior night.


The Cardinals return MIAC rookie of the year, Sophia Paduano, who earned All-MIAC accolades as well. Paduano's teammates Reese Heitzman and Celia Midtbo also tallied All-MIAC honors. Allie Urlaub and Celeste Rimstad return for the Cardinals notching honorable-mention All-MIAC honors last year.
 
It should be an exciting season for the Cardinals. You can find the full schedule on the saintmaryssports.com website.