Women's Hockey | 10/31/2014
Live Video (Saturday game only)DE PERE, Wis. – The College of Saint Benedict hockey team had its best season since head coach Jen Kranz took over in 2010-11 last season, but that was last year. This year, the Blazers are looking for more.
CSB kicks off the 2014-15 season this Friday, Oct. 31, with the first of a two-game series against St. Norbert's College in De Pere, Wis. The Blazers finished the 2013-14 season 7-18 overall and 4-14 and ninth in the MIAC, and three players were honored by the MIAC at the end of the season.
This Week: The Blazers start the series with a two-game road series against St. Norbert. Both games will be played in De Pere, Wis. Friday's game starts at 7:20 p.m. and the two teams face off again at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. This weekend marks the first games of the season for both teams.
About the Green Knights: St. Norbert finished 19-7-2 overall and finished runner up to Lake Forest College in the NCHA Slaats Cup Playoff Championship game. The Green Knights lost 3-2 in overtime in the final game of the year. Ali Parker returns after leading the team with 17 goals last season, and she also finished second on the team with 13 assists. Lauren Roethlisberger is also back after scoring 11 goals and having a hand in 12 assists. St. Norbert outscored opponents 104-52, and averaged 3.7 points per game. The 2014-15 season marks SNC's fifth year as a varsity program.
Last Meeting: St. Norbert and Saint Benedict squared off for a single game last season in St. Cloud, Minn., and the No. 8 Green Knights came away with a 7-3 victory. CSB led 2-0, then 3-2, but St. Norbert scored five unanswered goals to come away with the win.
Stephanie Kirk had a pair of goals and
Elli Marvin added a goal and an assist for the Blazers. SNC had 45 shots to the Blazers' 29.
The Storyline: After recording their best finish since 2008-09 last season, the Blazers are looking for more this year. Can CSB start the season with a big win over one of the top teams in the region from last season? How will the young Blazer team come together in its first game together?
Who to Watch: Sophomore
Stephanie Kirk returns after leading the team with 11 goals and five assists in her first year with the program. Fellow sophomore
Elli Marvin also returns after scoring six goals and recording 10 assists, and defender
Maddie Rainey is back for her second season after scoring five goals and having a hand in five assists. Goaltender
Jenna Traut is back for her senior season after finishing 6-6 and recording a .900 save percentage last season. Junior
Dory Johnson is also back after finishing the year with a .898 save percentage in 2013-14.
Familiar Territory: De Pere is a familiar place for Blazer senior captain
Tara Frey. Frey played for one season at St. Norbert before transferring to Saint Benedict prior to her sophomore season, and has made a huge impact on the Blazers ever since.
