WINONA, Minn. — "History has a way of repeating itself." — Karl Marx
 
And the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team is hoping the German philosopher knew what he was talking about.
 
After all, the Cardinals are in the midst of a season that brings up comparisons to the 2001-02 season — a year that concluded with Saint Mary's only MIAC Playoff title and the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III national tournament.
 
How closely does the present resemble the past?
 
When Saint Mary's kicks off its 14th appearance in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoffs on Saturday at second-seeded Augsburg, the Cardinals will be sporting an 18-5-2 overall record — the most wins since SMU finished 21-6-1 in 2001-02.
 
The Cardinals enter post-season play having gone 13-1-2 in its last 16 games — a run that included a nine-game winning streak, the program's longest since … winning 10 in 2001-02.
 
With Reese Heitzman (Hermantown, Minn.) Sophia Paduano (Westby, Wis.), and Celia Midtbo (Minneapolis, Minn.) all owning more than 10 goals this season — Heitzman with 17, Paduano with 14, and Midtbo with 11— it marks the first time SMU has had three players reach double figures in goals since … you guessed it … the 2001-02 season, when Emily Kearns (32), Christy Hicks (15), and Jaimie Mussehl (13) achieved the feat.
 
And the Cardinals are hoping the similarities continue as they try to maneuver through the minefield that is the five-team MIAC Playoffs.
 
"I see the 2002 MIAC Playoff championship banner in the arena every day at practice," said first-year head coach Chad Davis. "I know they must have had a special group to achieve such a lofty accomplishment. Without knowing that team specifically, I do know that this year's team has the same belief that that one did — that they can be the last team standing in the MIAC."
 
In order to be the last MIAC team standing, however, the Cardinals will have to run the gauntlet of knocking off second-seeded Augsburg in Saturday's semifinal, before most likely squaring off against top-seeded and regular-season champion Gustavus — the defending NCAA Division III national champion — in the title game on March 2.
 
"I was very optimistic coming into the season that we could get the program into the MIAC Playoff picture," said Davis, who took over the program just weeks before SMU's season-opening series against Lake Forest. "After seeing the team play for the first time after the exhibition games, a realistic goal was set to compete for an MIAC Playoff championship."
 
And compete they have, dropping just five games in their 25-game schedule — falling twice to No. 2-ranked Gustavus, along with solo losses to No. 1-ranked UW-River Falls, fellow playoff qualifier Hamline, and Saint Benedict.
 
"We have very genuine and humble people," said Davis of this year's squad, which includes three seniors, six juniors, eight sophomores, and 12 freshmen — and has, at times, started four freshmen and two sophomores. "They are great teammates and want to work together. Along with that we feel we have some very talented players with drive — and that's the key ingredient to giving yourself a chance to compete at the highest level.

"Overall we are excited about this team and the future of Cardinals hockey," Davis added. "We know to get to the top it takes belief and a relentless drive to be the best. We are a humble group and will give it everything we have, from the staff to players, to reach our goals."
 
And perhaps, repeat history.