A sports update for the coming semester by Sara Eisenhauer, Sports Information Director

Bailey Rasmussen, '15, Leading goal scorer

February will be a busy month for St. Catherine athletics as the winter sports teams wrap up their regular seasons and spring seasons get underway. Basketball will conclude its first season under new head coach Sean Pinkerton against a nationally-ranked University of St. Thomas squad on Saturday, Feb. 16 in the Butler Center at 3 p.m. The Wildcat Hockey Team will make a push to return to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoffs after narrowly missing a spot last season. The  team had its best start this season since 2009-10 and will wrap up the regular season at home against St. Olaf College on Saturday, Feb. 23, in a 2 p.m. contest at Drake Arena.

The Wildcat Swimming and Diving Team will co-host the MIAC Championships held at the University of Minnesota, Feb. 14-16. After breaking a pool record in the 200 IM at St. Thomas in December, reigning MIAC champion Steffanie Jurusik will fight to defend her title in the 400 IM and help the Wildcats to a strong team finish under new head coach Steven Mohs.

The Wildcat Track and Field,Tennis and Softball Teams begin their seasons in February before picking up steam in March and April. Track and Field competes indoors throughout the month before heading the the MIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., March 1-2. Tennis will return three MIAC All-Conference players in Michaela Burroughs, Maria Koval and Angie Lorenzen for the 2013 season. The squad will host several matches at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center in February before heading to Texas for spring break in March. Two-time MIAC All-Conference pick Alyssa Luedtke will lead the Wildcat softball team that opens up its 2013 season at the Vadnais Heights dome against Bethany Lutheran College on Feb. 22 before heading to warmer weather in Clermont, Fla., over spring break.