WCHA 2015-16 Women’s Season Preview

St. Cloud State senior forward Molly Illikainen (MHM Photo / Dave Harwig)

ST. CLOUD STATE

Coach:  Eric Rud, 2^nd season

Last season: 8-28-1, finished in seventh place in WCHA (5-22-1-1, 17 pts.)

Key losses: Audrey Hanmer was a four-year contributor on defense and goalie Julie Friend played a lot of minutes throughout her SCSU career.

Key returnees: Senior goalie Katie Fitzgerald split time with Friend last season and Molly Illikainen was the Huskies’ leading scorer with 19 points (10g-9a). Senior Lexi Slattery returns on the blue line, while junior forwards Payge Pena and Lauren Hespenheide are also back up front.

Top newcomers:  Chicago Young American teammates Jordan Stewart and Ivy Dynek are among six new forwards, and Taylor Crosby, the sister of Pittsburgh Penguins’ star Sidney, is competing with Fitzgerald for a spot in goal.

Outlook: St. Cloud is picked to finish seventh in the WCHA again in the preseason coaches’ poll and is the first opponent ever for Merrimack in the season opener Oct. 2. “We have an experienced defensive corps and a senior goalie, who showed she can be difference maker,’’ said Rud. “We will have to rely on them.’’