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The University of Regina's women's soccer team opens up the 2012 Canada West schedule this Saturday at home, as the Cougars will entertain provincial rival Saskatchewan with a noon kickoff at the U of R Field.

The 2012 season sees changes throughout the Canada West women's soccer landscape, as three new teams – Mount Royal, UNBC, and Winnipeg – make it a 13-team conference and the postseason expands to include eight teams for the first time. Instead of an unbalanced schedule as in years past, Canada West teams will now play once against all other teams, creating a 12-game conference schedule.

Coming off a strong showing in non-conference play with victories in both of its matches against CIS competition, the Cougars were picked eighth in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll. The U of R defeated Winnipeg by a 6-3 score and edged Manitoba by a 1-0 margin two weekends ago in Winnipeg.

The Cougars return a large majority of their roster from last season, led by midfielders Meagan Cormier and Molly Glass and wing back Sarah Novak. Cormier was one of just two Cougars to start all 14 conference games last season and led the team in minutes played, while Glass and Novak both started 13 games for the U of R. Novak and third-year defender Nicole Westcott will serve as the team's co-captains.

Also returning is third-year attacking midfielder Tayler Firth, who led the Cougars in goals scored and tied for the team lead in shots last season.

The most obvious change for the Cougars entering the 2012 season will be in net, where Stephanie Possberg is expected to take over from former Canada West all-star Michelle Anderson. Possberg saw action in four conference matches last season, sporting a 1.14 goals-against average.

Saskatchewan, which finished in fifth place in the conference last year with a 7-5-2 record, was also ranked fifth in this year's Canada West preseason coaches' poll.

The Huskies lose conference all-star Elizabeth Hudon, but return fourth-year midfielder Daniela Fuenzalida. Fuenzalida tied for the team lead with four assists last season and, like Hudon, earned Canada West all-star honours. Saskatchewan is guided by Tom LaPointe, who enters his sixth season as the team's head coach.

The two teams met once last season, with Saskatchewan getting a goal from Hudon in the 62nd minute en route to a slim 1-0 victory over the Cougars in Saskatoon.

The Cougars are back in action next weekend with home games on Saturday (Manitoba) and Sunday (Winnipeg). Both matches will kick off at noon at the U of R Field.