WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's soccer team kicks of the 2011 season under first-year head coach Neil Cassidy Thursday, as the Cardinals host Viterbo in a 7 p.m. nonconference game at Ochrymowycz Field.




The Matchup:
Saint Mary's Cardinals (0-0-0 Overall)
vs. Viterbo V-Hawks (0-1-0)

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Last Action:
Today's game is the season opener for the Cardinals, who are coming off a 7-9-1 season a year ago. … Viterbo, meanwhile, opened its season on the road on Aug. 21, falling to the University of St. Francis 2-1 in Chicago, Ill.

Last Meeting — September 1, 2004:
The Cardinals and V-Hawks have not met since 2004, when Viterbo dealt SMU a season-opening 1-0 setback in La Crosse, Wis.

Up Next:
The Cardinals are back in action on Monday, as they host their second straight nonconference game, entertaining the University of St. Francis in an 11 a.m. contest at Ochrymowycz Field. … Viterbo, meanwhile, opens its home schedule on Friday, hosting Benedictine in a 4 p.m. contest in La Crosse, Wis.

Saint Mary's Cardinals News and Notes:
2011 Roster | 2010 Overall Statistics | 2011 Schedule
The Cardinals will be without the services of Amy Sibik (Onalaska, Wis.), who closed out her illustrious collegiate career in 2010 as one of the top scorers in program history. The forward led the Cardinals in all three offensive categories last season, collecting 12 goals, five assists and 29 points. … Sibik's 12 goals — most among MIAC players in 2010 — were two shy of her single-season career-best from 2009, and gave her 46 for her career, ranking her No. 5 all-time. … Sibik scored10 or more goals in three of her four seasons as a Cardinal. … Sibik also closed out her career with 105 points, making her just the sixth player in SMU women's soccer history to eclipse the 100 career points plateau. … Amanda Rahman (Rochester, Minn.) returns after sharing the team lead with Sibik in assists with five, while also scoring five goals and finishing with 15 points. All three were career highs. … Ashley Gernes (Lake Elmo, Minn.), Mackenzie Carlson (Rosemount, Minn.) and Katie Holmes (Edina, Minn.) all scored their first collegiate goals in 2010. … Cassie Hulett (Milwaukee, Wis.) played all but seven minutes in goal for the Cardinals a year ago, compiling a 1.36 goals-against-average and a .798 save percentage. … Hulett's 95 saves were most among MIAC goalkeepers last season and her seven shutouts were second. … All seven of SMU's wins last season — not to mention its lone tie — were by shutout. … The Cardinals outscored their opponents 15-12 in the first half and 13-11 after halftime. … The Cardinals' 1-0 win over Macalester on Oct. 9 snapped a 14-game winless streak against the Scots that dated back to a 1-0 victory in 1995. … SMU's 0-0 tie vs. league-leading Concordia on Oct. 2 ended an 11-game losing streak against the Cobbers that dated back to a 2-1 Cardinal victory during the 1998 season. … SMU's seven goals vs. Lakeland and Ripon on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5, respectively, were the most since the Cardinals netted nine goals in a 9-0 win over Presentation in 2008.

Viterbo V-Hawks News and Notes:
2011 Roster | 2010 Overall Statistics | 2011 Schedule
The V-Hawks are coming off an 8-9-0 season a year ago, including a 5-3 mark in MCC play. … Viterbo returns 10 of its 11 starters, losing just Anastasia Jensen to graduation. … Steph Wisen and Lauren Neet accounted for 30 of the team's 48 goals in 2010, with Wisen netting a team-best 20 goals, while Neet scored 10. … Wisen also led the team in assists with eight and points with 48. … Wisen picked up right where she left off in Viterbo's season-opener against St. Francis, scoring the team's lone goal with 17 minutes remaining in regulation. … Wisen and Neet were two of four V-Hawks to start all 17 games last season. Haley Lassche (6 G, 3 A, 15 Pts) and Emily Jacobson (0 G, 1 A, 1 Pts) are the other two. … Viterbo used four different goalkeepers last season, with the quartet compiling a 2.16 goals-against-average and a .733 save percentage. … Carley Esser led the way in goal, posting a 2.36 GAA in 953:16 minutes. … Viterbo scored 24 goals in each half last season. … Five of Viterbo's eight 2010 wins came on the road.