First-year Concordia women's hockey coach Kerry Norman is hoping to take the Cobbers to the next level.
Not only does Norman -- a former NCAA Division I hockey player St. Lawrence University -- expect the Cobbers to compete for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title this season, she wants the Division III team to start thinking Division I.
"My first two years at St. Lawrence we were Division III, my last two years we were Division I" Norman said. "We're going to look at UND as a measuring stick of where we can go."
Norman, who coached at Northfield Mount Hermon prep school in Massachusetts the past four years, has planned a team trip to watch the University of North Dakota women's team play Boston College at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks on Oct. 26.
UND is in its first year of Division I women's hockey.
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The Cobbers, who finished fourth in the MIAC at 13-8-1 last year, return five all-conference players.
"I don't think you'll find a more enthusiastic team than this one," Norman said. "You have to pull them off the ice, and I think we have one of the best groups of returning player in the conference."
Morris closes in on record
The University of Minnesota, Morris football team can make history at home Saturday against Northern State.
A loss would give the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team the NCAA Division II record for consecutive losses with 40.
Morris tied St. Paul's (1948-53) and Cheyney (1994-98) with a record 39th straight defeat last week against Winona State. The Warriors defeated the Cougars 52-12.
Northern State (2-4) is led by running backs Ronnie Cruz and Deacon Burns.
Cruz, a junior, has rushed for 456 yards and four touchdowns. Burns has 347 rushing yards.
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The Cougars (0-6) allow 44.5 points and 468 total yards per game. They are last in the NSIC in rushing defense, allowing over 260 yards a game.
Minnesota, Morris will move to the Division III Upper Midwest Athletic Conference next season.
Odds and ends
Valley City State receiver Steve Battle caught five passes against Dickinson State on Saturday to become the Vikings' all-time leader in pass receptions with 162. The previous record was 160, held by former Viking Dan Rohrbach. University of Minnesota-Duluth receiver Tim Battaglia and quarterback Ricky Fritz were named D2football.com national co-offensive players of the week for their performances against Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday. Battaglia caught nine passes for 183 yards and five touchdowns. Fritz was 19 of 27 for 364 passing yards and six TDs. The Bulldogs defeated the Dragons 53-27.
Readers can reach Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562 or hhotzler@forumcomm.com
