ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — As the College of Saint Benedict hockey opens the season on Saturday (Nov. 2) against defending national NCAA DIII champion and top-ranked UW-River Falls, it is a veteran team excited for the start of the season and the potential for success.

"Our big thing now is sisterhood. You know, kind of supporting each other, but also holding each other accountable," said St. Benedict head coach Lindsay Macy. "We've been working a truckload on the team concept and the team chemistry. So, it's good to see all the work that we have done come to fruition."

 

It is a team includes nine seniors, who lead the team as they open at UW-River Falls (28-0-0, 2023-24) at 2:05 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 2. UW-River Falls was the No. 1 team in the Oct. 21 national DIII poll by the USCHO with 20 first-place votes. The Bennies have a 5-11 all-time record against UW-River Falls, including a 2-6 away record. A year ago, CSB took a 5-0 setback to the Falcons. St. Benedict's last victory against UW-River Falls was 6-1 on Nov. 13, 1999. In the first-ever matchup on Nov. 12, 1997, the Falcons recorded a 3-1 victory.

After the trip to River Falls, Wis., CSB faces UW-Superior at 7 p.m., on Nov. 5 on the road before hosting UW-Superior at 6 p.m., Nov. 12 in the home opener. St. Ben's opens MIAC play against St. Olaf at 6 p.m., Nov. 22 in Northfield. The Bennies then host St. Olaf in its MIAC home opener on Nov. 23 at 6 p.m., at Ritsche Arena. The MIAC Tournament is set to start on Feb. 27.

The Bennies finished 11-12-2 a year ago with a 7-9-2 MIAC record for sixth place, which was just a game out of the MIAC playoffs. Two years ago, CSB advanced to the MIAC playoffs after going 14-12 with an 11-7 conference mark for third in the MIAC. It was the program's highest conference finish ever.

As this team sets its sights on returning to the postseason and continuing to make a mark historically at CSB, they do so with a commitment to hard work and to each other.

Senior forward Shauna Miller noted the team's chemistry as crucial to success. "Honestly the culture from the time we came in here to the time we'll be leaving has improved tremendously," said Miller of Cottage Grove, Minn., who scored two goals and had four assists a year ago as she now has six career goals and eight assists. "And I think us seniors, having this last hurrah together is what keeps me going."

 "I think success just kind of looks like everyone buying into the system," said senior Jenna Timm of Maple Grove, Minn., who is a two-time All-MIAC performer with 11 career goals and 21 assists. "Showing up on time, just kind of doing the little things that matter," noted Timm, who had nine points, including eight assists a year ago.

As the practices opened, CSB has focused on preparation, which senior Ava Stinnett noted as vital to success.

"It's always fun to start the year off and kind of see who's cooking with who again from the previous season and then the incoming first years and where they will fit," said Stinnett of North Oaks, Minn., who had 13 goals and five assists for the Bennies in 2023-24 and now has 25 career goals, which is 10^th all-time in school history, and 23 assists for 48 points. "So, it's an exciting time and it's fun to get into game shape and get going."

 

The motivation and energy are high for St. Benedict, noted Macy. A team of 29 student-athletes, including the nine seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores, and seven first years, is a group that is striving every day to improve and grow.

"We have been putting a lot of focus on finishing and moving the puck. Things are looking really positive right now in practice and I'm excited for not only the seniors but also the incoming first year student-athletes," said Macy.

Two years ago, CSB tied for the most wins in school history (1999-00, 14-12-1) with 14, including a 9-4 home mark. With 11 MIAC wins, CSB set a record for conference wins and the third-place finish was also a program-best. CSB played in its first-ever MIAC Tournament semifinal game.

The Bennies reached double digits wins again for third straight year with at least six league wins also for a third straight year. All-time CSB has 190 wins, including 119 in league play.

Among the seniors returning include 2022-23 All-MIAC forward Aurora Opsahl, who tied Stinnett for the team lead in goals with 13 a year ago. Opsahl also had seven assists for a team-high 20 points. The Duluth, Minn., native has recorded back-to-back seasons of double-digit goals and has 30 in her career with 26 assists for 56 points. Opsahl, who has seven game winning goals, scored 14 goals with 14 assists in 2022-23.  Stinnett has six game-winning goals in her career, tied for fifth all-time.

With 56 points, Opsahl ranks tied for eighth all-time with Anna Richardson (2000-04). She is ninth all-time in goals and just two from sixth (Kelly Wegwerth, 1998-99; Brigette Miller, 2014-18; and Erin Baldwin, 2003-07, all with 32). And with seven career-game winning goals she is tied with Paula Vogt (1998-01) and Elli Marvin (2013-17) in program history.
 
 Also, back for CSB will be Emma Rooks, a senior forward from Rogers, Minn., who was third on the team with 10 goals a year ago and now has 20 in her career. 

In net, the Bennies return a trio of goaltenders that includes senior Kate Moffat, from St. Louis, Mo., who has recorded 680 saves in her career, which included 510 a year ago. She has a career save percentage of .918 with an overall record of 12-11-2. In 41 games, she has recorded four shutouts. Junior Ellynor Haack of St. Paul, Minn., and sophomore Delaney Norman of St. Paul, Minn., also return in the net.    

By the Numbers 
Overall, in the MIAC in 2023-24, CSB ranked fifth in goals scored at 2.68 per game (67), fifth in points per game at 5.80 (145, 25 games), seventh in assists per game at 3.12 (78/25 games), fifth in shots on goal per game at 30.64 (766/25 games), fifth in shots percentage at 0.09 per game (766 shots/25 games), sixth in goals allowed per game at 2.64 (66/25 games).