| College | Coaches | SID | '98-99 | '99-00 | Team | Returners | Newcomers | Lost | Outlook | Roster | Top |
1999-00 St. Mary's Women's Hockey Preview
| Their 1999-2000 Women's Hockey Home Page |
Last year 16-7-2 Overall, 8-2 MIAC, Tie for 1st

College Information
Saint Mary's University
Location:
700 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987
Founded: 1912
Enrollment: 1200
President: Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC
Nickname: Cardinals
Colors: Red and White
Conference: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
National Affiliation: NCAA Division III

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Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Jeff Vizenor
(2nd year), 16-8-2
Assistants: Ann Mortenson, Dan Koch, Hiroki Wakabayashi

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Sports Information
Donny Nadeau
ph: 507-457-1634;
fax: 507-457-6967
e-mail: dnadeau@smumn.edu

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 1998-99 game by game results
8-5-3 MIAC (T-1st), 11-10-4 Overall
1998-99 Game-by-Game Results
Date Opponent Result
Nov. 6 at St. Cloud State L, 4-2
Nov. 7 at St. Cloud State W, 4-3 OT
Nov. 14 at Augsburg L, 5-2
Nov. 20 Bemidji State W, 5-1
Nov. 21 Bemidji State W, 7-1
Nov. 24 St. Catherine W, 11-2
Dec. 5 St. Thomas W, 6-1
Dec. 12 Gustavus W, 3-2
Dec. 13 at Gustavus L, 9-0
Dec. 31 Wesleyan* L, 2-1 OT
Jan. 1 RPI* L, 8-2
Jan. 2 Bemidji State* L, 2-1
Jan. 9 at Bemidji State W, 5-2
Jan. 10 at Bemidji State W, 6-2
Jan. 13 at St. Catherine W, 9-0
Jan. 15 St. Cloud State T, 3-3
Jan. 16 St. Cloud State T, 5-5
Jan. 22 at St. Thomas W, 8-1
Feb. 6 Augsburg W, 4-0
Feb. 13 at St. Benedict W, 4-3 (OT)
Feb. 14 at St. Benedict W, 1-0
Feb. 20 Iowa State W, 13-1
Feb. 21 Iowa State W, 13-0
Feb. 26 Augsburg* W, 3-2 (2 OTs)
Feb. 27 Gustavus* L, 10-4
*at Augsburg, Minneapolis, Minn.

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1999-2000 Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Nov. 5-6 at UW-Superior 7 p.m./2 p.m.
Nov. 12-13 Lake Forest 7:05 p.m./2:05 p.m.
Nov. 19-20 at Findlay U. (Ohio) 7 p.m./2 p.m.
Dec. 4 Gustavus 2:05 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Gustavus 2:05 p.m.
Dec. 10-11 UW-River Falls 7:05 p.m./2:05 p.m.
Jan. 8-9 Findlay University 2:05 p.m./2:05 p.m.
Jan. 13 at St. Thomas 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 St. Thomas 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 19 Bethel 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 22 at Bethel 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 29-30 at Concordia 7:05 p.m./2:05 p.m.
Feb. 5 at St. Catherine 4:15 p.m.
Feb. 6 St. Catherine 2:05 p.m.
Feb. 8 at St. Cloud State 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 19 at Augsburg 2:05 p.m.
Feb. 20 Augsburg 2:05 p.m.
Feb. 25-26 St. Benedict 7:05 p.m./12:05 p.m.
 

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Team Information
Last year 16-7-2 Overall, 8-2 MIAC, Tie for 1st
Starters Returning
Letterwinners Returning

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Returning Players
Key Returning Players:
Missy Westergren (So., F, All-MIAC, 28 goals, 18 assists, 46 points);
Kelly O'Neil (Jr., F, 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points);
Mo Hayes (So., D, All-MIAC, 11 goals, 19 assists, 30 points);
Megan Johnson (Sr., D, 13 goals, 15 assists, 29 points);
Mindy Westergren (So., F, All-MIAC, 12 goals, 12 assists, 24 points)

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Key Newcomers
 

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Key Player Losses
Jess Bauer (12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points).

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Season Outlook/Notes:
by School's SID

A year ago, Jeff Vizenor and the Saint Mary's University women¹s hockey team were a relative unknown in NCAA Division III women¹s hockey.

Vizenor was a first-year coach with no collegiate coaching experience, and the Cardinals were in their first season as a varsity sport.

Expectations? Sure, the Cardinals were expected to be the doormat for the veterans of the women¹s game to wipe their feet on.

The Cardinals made a wrong turn on their way to the front stoop, however. There would be no stay in the MIAC¹s basement for this group, they had their sights on the top - the very top.

And with all-conference performers Mindy and Missy Westergren (Lonsdale, Minn.) leading the high-powered SMU offense, and all-MIAC defenseman Mo Hayes (Cottage Grove) spearheading a brick-wall defense, that¹s exactly where the Cardinals ended up, capturing a share of the conference crown in their inaugural season.

"I guess you could say we went beyond our or anyone else¹s expectations,"admitted Vizenor, whose team finished with an 8-2-0 mark in the conference and a 16-7-2 overall record. "But I wouldn¹t say I was surprised by what we accomplished. Last year, we had 18 individuals committed to doing their part to make sure the team reached its full potential.

"We got where we were because of an incredible amount of hard work, and a great team chemistry."

Despite the Cardinals' success of a year ago, Vizenor isn¹t about to take anything for granted. With 14 new faces on their 24-player roster, the Cardinals¹ second-year head coach figures he is going to have to start from scratch again this year.

"We need to try and build our identity, get that team chemistry in place right way," he said. "We¹ve got a lot of new faces and it¹s important that we get everyone pulling together right off the bat.

³We¹ve got the potential to have another great year."

Which is a scary thought for the rest of the MIAC.

Along with the Westergrens, who accounted for 40 of the team's 122 goals, Vizenor will be looking for more offensive production from returners Kelly O¹Neil (Richfield, Minn.) (15 goals, 30 points) and Angie Rodgers (Bloomington, Minn.) (5 goals, 8 points), as well as from a stable of talented freshmen.

The Cardinals also return top defensemen in Hayes (11 goals, 19 assists), senior captain Megan Johnson (St. Paul, Minn.) (13 goals, 15 assists) and Kellie Gilbertson (Bloomington, Minn.).

If there is a spot where the Cardinals are untested, it's in goal, where freshmen Nitara Frost (North Mankato, Minn.) and Missie Meemken (St. Cloud, Minn.) will both see time between the pipes.

"We aren't going to sneak up on anyone this year," admitted Vizenor. "We showed last year that we can compete with the top women¹s hockey programs around.

"We didn't accomplish everything we wanted to last year," continued Vizenor, noting that his team lost to Gustavus in the season-ending Augsburg Tournament. ³People are going to be gunning for us, so we are going to have to make sure we continue to work hard and continue to be at our best every time we step on the ice."
 

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Preseason Roster |
1999-2000 Roster
 Preseason Roster
No.Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown
 1 Nitara Frost G 5-4 Fr. North Mankato, Minn.
 2 Monica Deringer F 5-4 Fr. Brooklyn Park, Minn.
 3 Angie Rodger F 5-2 So. Bloomington, Minn.
 4 Josie Nechodom F 5-9 Fr. Oakdale, Minn.
 5 Kristin Klimmek D/F 5-5 Fr. Jordan, Minn.
 6 Becky Chapel G 5-3 Sr. Chicago, Ill.
 7 Julie Luttrell F 5-5 Fr. Moorhead, Minn.
 8 Laura Wyness F 5-7 So. Chicago, Ill.
 10 Mo Hayes D 5-5 So. Cottage Grove, Minn.
 11 Amy Black F 5-10 Fr. Crystal Lake, Ill.
 12 Evora Olson F 5-2 Fr. Mendota Hts, Minn.
 14 Missy Westergren F 5-5 So. Lonsdale, Minn.
 15 Caitie Wondergem D/F 5-6 So. Sheboygan, Wis.
 17 Megan Johnson D 5-9 Sr. St. Paul, Minn.
 18 Ruth Swanson D 5-8 Fr. Shoreview, Minn.
 19 Mindy Westergren D 5-5 So. Lonsdale, Minn.
 20 Kelly O¹Neil F 5-5 Jr. Richfield, Minn.
 21 Kellie Gilbertson D 5-6 Jr. Bloomington, Minn.
 24 Leah Haack D 5-3 Fr. Rochester, Minn.
 25 Christy Hicks F 5-7 Fr. Bloomington, Minn.
 26 Sarah Gibbons F 5-4 Fr. Lemont, Ill.
 27 Bridget Schutz D 5-6 Fr. Omaha, Neb.
 28 Shawna Emley F 5-10 Fr. San Jose, Calif.
 35 Missie Meemken G 5-5 Fr. St. Cloud, Minn.
 
 

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This page is maintained by the Concordia Sports Information Office  in cooperation with all the MIAC SIDs | pyle@cord.edu |