CANTON — The eighth-ranked St. Lawrence University women's hockey team is set to open the 2024-2025 season on Saturday, September 21, with an exhibition game against No. 4 Colgate at Appleton Arena for Laurentian Weekend; opening faceoff is slated for 3 p.m.

The 2024-25 season also brings a notable milestone for the Scarlet and Brown, as they celebrate 50 years of women's hockey at St. Lawrence, spanning from 1975-2025.

"Off the success and accomplishments of the 23-24 season, we are excited about what the 24-25 season will bring," said head coach Chris Wells. "It won't take long for us to find out where our group is with our early schedule including our exhibition game vs. Colgate this weekend."

Coming off a historic season in 2023-24, this year's squad will be captained by Anna Segedi (C), Kristina Bahl (A), Abby Hustler (A) and Melissa Jefferies (A).

The Scarlet and Brown return eight of their top 10 scorers from last season, including leading scorer and Patty Kaz Top-10 finalist Abby Hustler.

Hustler led the Saints with 24 goals and 31 assists for 55 points on the season. She ended the season ranked second nationally with 12 power play goals on the season, and ranked seventh with 0.62 goals per game, 10th with 1.41 points per game, and 13th with 0.79 assists. Her 12 power play goals tied Rebecca Russell for first in the Saints' record books from 2004-05.

Hustler was the first Patty Kaz top-10 finalist for the Saints since 2017, and earned Second-Team All-ECAC Hockey honors. This season, she was tabbed an All-ECAC Hockey Preseason Team selection.

Segedi, who earned Third-Team All-ECAC honors last season, tallied 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points. Her 18 goals included six game winners, two of which were overtime tallies.

Other returning scorers in the top 10 from last season include – Sarah Marchand, Aly McLeod, Taylor Lum, Katina Duscio, Jefferies and Bahl.

Segedi, Bahl, Jefferies and McLeod all return for a fifth-year graduate campaign with the Saints, while the Scarlet and Brown welcome four other grad transfers into the mix this season including Bella Parento (University of Vermont), Sarah Thompson (Syracuse University) Claire Tyo (Providence College), and Tori Verbeek (University of Guelph).

Hustler, Lum, Marchand, Gemma DiMento and Hillary Sterling are all headed into their senior seasons, while the junior class is made up of starting goaltender Emma-Sofie Nordström, Katina Duscio, Kiley Mastel, and Kennedy Wilson.

Nordström also earned Second-Team All-ECAC honors in 2023-24 and backstopped the Saints to a successful season. She ended the year with 2,068 minutes played, a 2.03 goals against average, a .931 save percentage, seven shutouts, and a 25-11-0 record. Her goals against average ranked 24th nationally, while her save percentage ranked 19th. Her seven shutouts rank eighth in the Saints' career record books and rank second for shutouts in a season. Her 25 wins is tied for ninth in the career column, and ties Rachel Barrie (2003-04) for first in a season. Her 951 saves rank second to Carmen McDonald with 958 in 2012-13, while her .931 save percentage ranks fifth.

Back on the ice as sophomores are Abby Hehl, Kassidy Lawrence and Kennedy Emerson, while five newcomers join the ranks – Alexia Côté, Halle Mules, Mave O'Hagan, Sami Phelan and Ella Willoughby.

"We have a number of returning players that will be able to lead our team," Wells added. "With seven of the top 15 teams in country coming from the ECAC, we know how difficult it is to win in this league and appreciate the opportunities each night!"

Leading the Saints in his 17th season, Wells was a finalist for the ECAC Coach of the Year and after a trip to the NCAAs, he was named the USCHO National Coach of the Year for 2023-24.

After an exhibition game to kick things off this weekend, St. Lawrence will head to Merrimack for their first school day game of the year with an 11 a.m. game vs. the Warriors on September 27.

The Saints then enter a five-game home stand as they host top-ranked Ohio State on October 4-5, Syracuse on October 8 and Mercyhurst on October 11-12. After that, the Scarlet and Brown hit the road for games at UVM and RIT and open ECAC Hockey play on the road at Princeton and Quinnipiac on November 1-2.

"Appleton was an exciting place to be in last year and we expect the same atmosphere to be present this year. Our local and university support is what makes SLU the special place that it is."

St. Lawrence will host this season's school day game with Route 11 rival Clarkson for non-conference action, as they welcome local schools for an 11 a.m. game on Wednesday, November 13. The Route 11 rivalry with Clarkson will include four games this season, with a second non-league contests on November 16, and ECAC Hockey contests slated for January 24 and 25.