ST. PAUL, MINN. – September 1 often marks the end of the summer and the beginning of the school year, but for the St. Catherine University soccer team, September 1 might be one of the most anticipated days of the year. For the Wildcats, September 1 marks the first day of the 2016 soccer season, a day St. Kate's has anxiously awaited since its historic 2015 came to an end on November 3, 2015.

However, the Wildcats aren't wasting any time easing into the 2016 schedule. The team will play three nonconference games over Labor Day weekend, starting with a 5 p.m. match up against the University of Minnesota-Morris in Morris, Minnesota. After that, St. Kate's will return for their home opener against Transylvania University at 12 p.m. on September 3 and conclude the weekend with another road game against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Sunday.

Here are the things to know before soccer's big opening weekend:

7 – The Wildcats were picked to finish seventh in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) preseason coaches poll, which was released Monday afternoon. Last year, St. Kate's finished sixth in the conference and earned their first ever berth to the MIAC playoffs.

First – This Labor Day weekend marks a lot of first for the St. Kate's soccer program. The Wildcats are the first team to compete for St. Kate's this 2016 season, Saturday's 12 p.m. game will be the first time St. Kate's will play Transylvania in any sport, and the Wildcats are taking on UM-Morris for the first time since 2010.

5 – The last time St. Kate's took on the Cougars, the Wildcats scored four unanswered goals in the second half to take a decisive 5-1 victory.

779 – Transylvania University is located in Lexington, Kentucky, which is 779 miles south of St. Kate's.  The drive takes nearly 12 hours (without traffic) while the flight is only one hour and 55 minutes.

1 – The Wildcats settled for a 1-1 tie against UW-River Falls last season, their first and only tie of 2015. St. Kate's took a 1-0 lead at 52:58 in the second half on a goal by then junior Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn. / Stillwater), but the Falcons tied it up in the 85^th minute.

6 – Six seniors will begin their final season with the Wildcats on Thursday. Okerstrom, Julia Zyla (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Trinity), Kelly Molitor (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South), Anna Pedersen (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater), and Gabi Scundi (Maplewood, Minn. / Hill Murray) will be offensive catalysts for the St. Kate's while Allie Boucher (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) anchors the defense.

10 – Ten new faces join the Wildcats in 2016, seven first years and three transfer student-athletes. Tayler Koop (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine), Alyssa Siljendahl (Duluth, Minn. / Hermantown), Julia Rupp (North Branch, Minn. / North Branch), Allie Bird (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove), Amanda Carey (Hudson, Wis. / Hudson), Gabi Fettig (Farmington, Minn. / Farmington), Marissa Jensen (Oakdale, Minn. / North), Nicole Palsgrove (Maple Grove, Minn. / Wayzata), Samantha Boonstra (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove), and Monica Mischke (Lino Lakes, Minn. / Centennial) will all make their debuts for the Wildcats this weekend.

6 – Six juniors and six sophomores also return for St. Kate's this 2016 season, bringing the roster total to 28 players.

Those who can't make it to St. Kate's home opener against Transylvania can watch online via live stats. Also be sure to check Twitter for updates at @stkatesathletics.