ST. PAUL, Minn. ­– After opening their season last Saturday at University of Wisconsin – Stout, the 1-0 St. Catherine University Wildcats will play their first regular season game tomorrow since winning the MIAC Playoff Championship in double overtime to Gustavus 1-0 as the No. 5 seed in the tournament. The Wildcats open tomorrow against non-conference opponent the University of Minnesota – Morris Cougars at 5 p.m.

After losing four players to graduation this season, head coach Jesse Campos and his team understand the field looks a little different since that cold game last November and they are excited about it! Campos brought in more than double than what he lost this season but returning is junior forward Allie Bird (Maple Grove, Minn.) who scored the lone and winning goals in the semifinal and championship playoff games.

Bird is not alone in the powerful balance of returners for the Wildcats as senior midfielder Kaitlin Machovec (Woodbury, Minn. / North) appears again this season as a key defensive player who finished last season tied for most goals scored. Senior midfielder Molly Hayes (South St. Paul, Minn.) also adds to the pivotal group of returns after appearing in all games as junior with two goals last season. Lastly, looking to expand her presence on the field this year is senior Iryna Talkachova (Minsk, Belarus / Shattuck St. Mary's) who scored the game winner last weekend against Stout.

The returns are joined this season by a group of newcomers already proving they will be vital to the success of the Wildcats with newcomer Sofia Campbell (St. Paul, Minn. / Nova Classical Academy) looking to repeat her first collegiate game from last week after scoring the third and final goal of the game against the Blue Devils.

The last time the Wildcats and Cougars met was back in September 2016 with St. Kate's coming out the victor of a 5-1 game in Morris. To no surprise, it was Bird, Hayes and junior returner and key midfielder Marissa Janssen. This time the Cougars travel to St. Paul for an early evening match up on the campus of St. Catherine University.