Villa Duchesne has a new coach, Meredith Rull, former player at the school. She replaces Vivi Keefer who coached her alma mater just one year.

In that time, the Saints rolled to an impressive 20-4-1 record and one of the top finishes in the area in 2011.

Rull will have to replace mainstays Demi Wideman, Sydney Tomaso, Mackenzie Sullivan, her goal keeper; Molly Flood, Bentley Boldt and Emily Callahan. They made up the nucleus of a team that won 20 games.

These are the players Rull will be counting upon this season: Grace Leeker, senior midfielder; Cooper Hudspeth, junior midfielder; Lucy Sheahan, senior defender; Victoria Keefer, senior forward or midfielder; Ali Hennessey, senior defense or midfielder; Mary Sant, senior forward or midfielder and Lindsay Dames, junior forward.

Last year Tomaso was top scorer with 24 points; Wideman had 20 and Boldt 18. Sullivan logged 1,259 minutes in goal and had a personal record of 18-4-1 in games she started.

Returners Dames had 24 points, Leeker 21 and Keefer 15.

The Saints open up with a game against Marquette on August 28. They will play Mnual of Kentucky, New Trier (Il) and Nerinx Hall in the opening Gateway Classic followed by a match with Cor Jesu Academy September 6.

Villa Duchesne 2012 Field Hockey Schedule

day/date/time/opponent

Tuesday, August 28, 4:15 p.m. vs Marquette

Thursday, Sept. 6, 45 p.m. vs Cor Jesu

Friday, Sept. 7, 4 p.m. at University City

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 4 p.m. at Visitation

Thursday, Sept. 13, 4 p.m. at Parkway South

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 4 p.m. vs Ursuline

Thursday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m. vs Edwardsville

Friday, Sept. 28, 4 p.m. vs Clayton

Tuesday, October 2, 4 p.m. at MICDS

Wednesday, October 3, 4 p.m. at Lutheran South

Friday, October  5, 4 p.m. at Ladue

Saturday, October 6, 11:30 a.m. at Whitfield

Thursday, October 11, 4 p.m. at Nerinx Hall

Sunday, October 14, noon vs St. Joseph's

Thursday, October 18, 4 p.m. vs Rosati-Kain at Midwest Soccer Academy

Tuesday, October 23, 4 p.m. at John Burroughs